Friend of Harborough woman killed by ex-partner to run 250 miles marking 10 years since death
A friend of a young woman who was murdered by her ex-partner 10 years ago is running 250 miles to raise money for a stalking charity started in her memory.
Lucy Parkinson will start the challenge in Newcastle on October 3 and over nine days will run just over a marathon each day.
Lucy was friends with Alice Ruggles, a 24-year-old from Tur Langton who was killed by her ex-partner after a relentless campaign of stalking and abuse in October 2016.
Soldier Trimaan Dhillon had been controlling and coercive during their short relationship and began stalking her after things ended. This included hacking into her phone and social media accounts, contacting her family and repeatedly turning up at her home.
He was jailed in 2017 for life, with a minimum term of 22 years, for stalking and her murder.
Alice’s parents set up the Alice Ruggles Trust in her name with the charity educating young people about the signs of stalking and how to recognise unhealthy behaviours in relationships.
Lucy said: “This October marks 10 years since I lost my friend Alice. She was one of the funniest people I’ve ever known – bright, kind, intelligent and endlessly fun to be around. If you spent time with Alice, you spent a lot of it laughing.”
The route of the challenge will start in Newcastle, where Alice went to university and worked, and will go through Leicester, where Alice and Lucy had gone to school together. Lucy will finish her final run in Tur Langton.
Lucy explained: “When I was thinking about how to mark the 10-year anniversary, I knew I wanted to do something big and meaningful. Somehow, that became running 250 miles from Newcastle to Leicester.”
“There has already been plenty of blood, sweat and tears, and I am expecting a lot more to come. Every donation, no matter the size, will support the Alice Ruggles Trust’s work to help prevent what happened to Alice from happening to others.”
More than £2,600 has already been raised by 86 supporters ahead of the run. People can visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/newcastle2leicester to donate.