Behind the scenes to the front, racing, line!
published on 24 Apr 2026
A Liverpool woman will be running for the first time in the London Marathon to raise funds to support people who are homeless.
An employee of The Salvation Army, one of the UK’s largest providers of services for people experiencing homelessness, Anna Coulton, 39, from Waterloo, Liverpool, will be taking to the streets of the capital and tackling the London Marathon raising funds for the church and charity’s work around homelessness.
After seeing first-hand the work that The Salvation Army does every day to support the most vulnerable members of local communities, Anna wanted her first time taking part in a marathon challenge to be meaningful after being moved by the work and stories that she sees and hears every day. She said: “I’ve only worked for The Salvation Army for just over a year but in that time I have been blown away every day by the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes and on the front line to support people who are experiencing homelessness.
“From people who are just about surviving on the streets to people forced to sofa surf, live in cars on in unstable temporary accommodation, I know that money raised for The Salvation Army will make sure people are cared for and have hope for their futures. I know that every penny really does count.”
Anna will be running the 26.2-mile course on Sunday, April 26, cheered on by her family including husband and two children, age six and four, and hopes that she can contribute to helping change people’s lives.
Working within the digital team for the church and charity, Anna continued: “The main thing that encouraged me to sign up was reading and writing about all the ways that The Salvation Army helps people who are struggling. People with so many obstacles that they have had to overcome but with The Army’s help they have turned a corner, against the odds. Their strength has inspired me, and I want to do what I can to ensure the help can continue.”
The Salvation Army runs three Lifehouses (homeless hostels) across Merseyside; Ann Fowler House on Fraser Street in Liverpool City Centre, Darbyshire House on Prescot Road in Old Swan, and Salisbury House on Phoenix Brow in St Helens. Operating over 78 supported accommodation services across the UK and Ireland, The Salvation Army provides over 3,000 beds every night, with its Lifehouses dubbed as more than a place to stay, they are places where people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping can receive training, advice and a place to rebuild their lives.
For anyone looking to support Anna, and contribute to the work of The Salvation Army, they can do so here
