Salvation Army Director of Anti Trafficking to run marathon

The Salvation Army’s Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery, Kathy Betteridge is gearing up to take on the London Marathon to raise money and awareness of the church and charity’s crucial work to support recovering survivors of modern slavery.

Kathy (63) will be one of thousands of people who will pound the pavements in the capital on 27 April in a bid to make a difference. A keen runner, this will be Kathy’s tenth marathon and the fifth time she has run in the London event. She has also taken on several half marathons. 

Kathy, who is also a mother of three, began running about 20 years ago to improve her bone density as she has Myasthenia gravis, a rare long-term condition that causes muscle weakness. She was diagnosed with this at the age of 17 and was critically ill for more than a year. The condition mostly affected her facial muscles.

“I couldn’t open my eyes properly or chew or swallow and I had difficulty breathing. My legs and arms were also really weak. I was critically ill for around 18 months; it was awful.”

Treatment for Kathy’s condition involved an operation to remove her thymus gland, which is located behind the heart. She was also put on a steroid for the rest of her life to help manage the condition but one of the side effects of that is bone weakness, so doctors recommended Kathy took up some kind of exercise to improve her bone density. This led to her trying out running. 

During her time in hospital Kathy became a Christian. She believes her strong faith in God and the prayers from the Methodist church she was then a member of also helped in her recovery. She became a member of The Salvation Army where she met her husband and trained as a Salvation Army Officer. 

Kathy’s training for the London Marathon is going well. She runs five miles in the morning at least four times a week and then does a longer run at the weekend. 

“My training is coming along well. I’d like to finish the marathon in under five hours if I can as I was a minute over that time back in 2023! I won’t put myself under too much pressure though as I also want to enjoy the day.”

Kathy is looking forward to the buzz of London on Marathon Day and will have lots of support from her family who will be there to cheer her on. 

“The London Marathon is quite unique and the crowds of people cheering you on is great. It’s always good to see The Salvation Army cheer point outside the Poplar church at mile 20. I find from mile 22 is when I’ll really need to push through but I’ll have family there to encourage me which really helps. I always say that I’ll never do the London Marathon again and then I get near the finish line and see all the London landmarks and reconsider!”

Spot the signs of modern slavery

As The Salvation Army’s Director of Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery, Kathy knows how the work of her team has changed lives for the better. 

“The work we do at The Salvation Army alongside government and other partners is crucial and has changed lives. It’s not just vulnerable people who can be targeted and exploited. 

“We see people who never would have thought they would become a victim of modern slavery, and are embarrassed about it, and then others who have been exploited in various ways over many years. These people arrive with us, and they need time and support to reflect on and recover from what they went through. It’s great that we can give them that.” 

Kathy urged people to become aware of the signs of modern slavery and report it to police. The Salvation Army can then step in and help. 

“Modern slavery is happening around us, it’s not something where people are chained up in a distant land. We could well be sitting beside or around someone who is trapped in modern slavery. 

“I would encourage the public to keep an eye out for signs - someone who may be controlled, or malnourished, bruised or fearful for a reason that may not be obvious. Report this to police who can investigate. The Salvation Army can then help these victims when they come into our service.”

Funds raised by the people running the London Marathon will go to The Salvation Army’s Survivor Support Fund which provides crucial assistance to survivors of modern slavery as they rebuild their lives and move towards independent living. 

This fund provides additional help to survivors of modern slavery, over and above the specialist support The Salvation Army delivers through a government contract, helping with anything from equipment or training to secure work, therapeutic activities, such as sport, to aid wellbeing and practical items for survivors with young children or those moving into their own homes.

Kathy expressed her gratitude to everyone taking on the marathon for The Salvation Army and highlighted some of the difference the money raised will make.

“The Survivor Support Fund really helps make a difference in people’s lives. We have a government contract, but it doesn’t give everything survivors of modern slavery need. The funds that people raise for us will help provide support in so many ways. 

“We have previously helped survivors who have had their teeth badly damaged due to exploitation or abuse with the cost of dentistry, and given others support towards rent and furniture costs. We were able to give a bike to someone else so they could get around. Thank you so much to all our runners and to everyone who donates.” 

You can sponsor Kathy at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kathy-betteridge-1720775086612