An impressive £11,000 has been raised in memory of murdered PCSO Julia James for a charity fighting to end violence against women.
Her daughter, Bethan Coles, joined 11 friends on Saturday for a 53km ultra-marathon – walking and running one kilometre for every year of her mum’s life.
Julia, who worked with domestic violence victims, was killed by 21-year-old Callum Wheeler while walking her dog Toby in a rural area of Snowdown, near Dover, in 2021.
Her murder was described in court as a sexually motivated attack.
Bethan, from Folkestone, wanted to do something for her mum, and came upon the idea after she started running with her friends as they felt safer as a group.
They started at Ashford Police Station and travelled to Folkestone Harbour Arm.
The 36-year-old told KentOnline: “When doing the training runs, we knew 53km was going to be really tough, but to be a part of something so important, it gave us the motivation to tackle it together.
“The support we had from family, friends and the lovely sponsorship messages kept us going throughout.
“They set up checkpoints to keep us going with supplies, and we were even serenaded by a trumpet!
“I am so proud that we have raised so much money in remembrance of my mum and for such a great cause.
“It’s an experience we will never forget, and we’re already thinking about what we could do next time.”
The sum is going to the White Ribbon Campaign, which works with men and boys to challenge harmful cultures that lead to harassment, abuse and violence.
Julia, who joined Kent Police as a PCSO in 2008, was based at Canterbury station. Her death shocked the county and led to an outpouring of grief.
Wheeler was jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years after being convicted of her murder in July 2022.
