A trainee social worker is aiming to help the LGBTQ+ community in Sussex by running the Brighton Marathon in aid of Switchboard.
Libbie Nicklin will put her body through the 26.2-mile test of endurance with thousands of other runners on Sunday 7 April.
It will be the first time the 23-year-old Oxford Brookes University student has challenged herself to complete a full marathon.
Libbie is relishing the prospect of undertaking the challenge and helping Switchboard at the same time.
“I used to work at Lush in Brighton, and we did a lot of fundraising with our charity pot – and that’s when I first found out about Switchboard,” she explained.
“It was cool to learn about the charity – the dementia work really stuck with me at the time, how broad it was and how in Brighton it brought such a nice community together.
“I wanted to do something to help Switchboard and that was local to Brighton, so I thought I’d have a go at the marathon.”
Libbie started running again after watching a friend take part in the 2023 Brighton Marathon. The criminology graduate is a member of a running club and completes the occasional parkrun.
Libbie has been preparing for this year’s Brighton Marathon by gradually increasing the distance she runs each week.
Despite the cold winter weather and the occasional blister, she says the exercise gives her a reason to go outdoors and helps her mental health.
She recently completed the Finsbury Half Marathon in a little over two hours.
“I was really pleased with this and think it’s helped give me a good grounding for the Brighton Marathon,” said Libbie, who has also completed solo runs of 35km and 30km.
“I’m really looking forward to taking part in such a wonderful event while helping Switchboard.”
Libbie and her fellow runners will begin the Brighton Marathon in Preston Park and run to Withdean before heading back down London Road towards the city.
Once past the Royal Pavilion, they will travel into Kemptown and on to Ovingdean before enjoying coastal views of the city in the run-up to the finishing line at Hove Lawns.
If you would like to help Libbie reach her target to raise £1,000 for Switchboard, please visit her JustGiving page.
To make a one-off or regular donation to Switchboard, please visit our website.