While most of us were hunting for eggs this Easter, Hannah Beaumont was hunting down rubbish, as she took on a litter-picking marathon.
This involved a 26-mile trip around Brixham, taking 54,958 steps and picking up 17 bags worth of litter.
"There were a couple of heavy cloud bursts and then a wipeout of hail, but apart from that, it wasn't too cold and there was blue sky," said Hannah, after finishing the marathon.
Hannah took part in the challenge not just to highlight the issue of rubbish in our communities, but also to raise money for Manorlands Hospice, who looked after her Grandma before she passed away.
Growing up in Yorkshire,
Hannah moved down to Brixham in 2019, to become a full-time support worker at the local charity ‘Yes!’.
She began litter-picking after being inspired by her grandparents, who would pick litter along the country lanes of Yorkshire.
Hannah said: “I used to litterpick when I was up North but when I moved down here in 2019, seeing the rubbish on the beaches and washing in with the tides made me want to do more.
“I’ve always wanted to live near the sea, so moving down here and seeing all that rubbish just sparked something in me.
“I’ve seen how litter does not break down, finding ‘vintage litter’ from the 70s and 80s still looking new and have found dead animals trapped in bottles.”
In 2020,
Hannah started a social media page, ‘Me & the Plastic Sea’, in order to document her adventures and raise awareness for the issue of rubbish. Her work has certainly caught people’s attention, including that of Sir David Attenborough, who has sent
Hannah three letters.
The idea of a litter pick marathon was born last summer.
Hannah said: “Last Summer I did my first marathon litter pick, Brixham to Babbacombe and back. Then, in November I did another going from Brixham to Kingswear and back via Paignton.
“I have also done a 24-hour litter pick in 2022 around the bay.”
The aim was to make a fitness challenge where
Hannah could combine her training for the London Marathon with litter picking.
She explained: “I wanted to do some kind of fitness challenge to link with the London Marathon fundraising but also include my other hobby of litter picking too! So I thought, "Hey why not!”
-1712051870498.JPG)
After completing the London Marathon for the first time in 2022,
Hannah will also be running this year, again raising money for Manorlands Hospice, managed by Sue Ryder.
“I chose Manorlands Hospice because they looked after my Grandma before she passed away in 2019. They do so much, but need fundraisers to help keep their funds up, in order to be able to operate and run,” said
Hannah.
-1712051842650.JPG)
Hannah has now raised over £3,000 for the hospice.
She added: “Knowing my Grandma would be so proud of me and all I have achieved, that my Grandad continues to litter pick often, and the difference I am making keeps me motivated. Knowing that I can make a difference, even if it is small, makes it all worthwhile.
"A huge thank you to everyone for your support, lovely words and donations."
To support Hannah’s London Marathon and litter picking marathon, visit her JustGiving page here.
