Police couple join forces to run London Marathon for charity Crimestoppers

Police couple join forces as they take on one of their biggest challenges

A couple from Aberdare working at South Wales Police and Gwent Police respectively are to join forces and tackle one of the biggest challenges of their careers for the charity Crimestoppers – the London Marathon.

Carwyn Evans, 51, will tackle the 26.2 miles in London for the first time, although he did run a marathon in a triathlon training weekend last year, while wife Deborah, 57, will be participating in her ninth marathon having already completed the run around London, as well as events in Madrid, Manchester and Snowdonia.

For Carwyn, the London showpiece has been a long time coming having deferred due to a niggling hamstring last year.

“I’m obviously really looking forward to it. It’s my A race of the year,” he said.

“It’s the biggest thing we’re doing this year.”

Deborah will hope that this year will be a bit more memorable than her last London Marathon in 2015. She admitted that enthusiasm probably got the best of her and her memory of the last time she ran, isn’t particularly clear.

“After every marathon I have finished, I say that’s the last, I’m only doing half’s from now on – a day later I’m planning the next!

“London was my third marathon in 2015. I went too fast to start, dehydrated, and can’t really remember finishing.”

Carwyn only started running less than four years ago and his training for London this year has already seen a setback with a stress fracture of a metatarsal in a race on Boxing Day, which saw him have to wear a boot for six weeks.

But having completed over eighty events in the last two years that covered everything from running, to swimming, to cycling, he is confident that he can finish the run in under six hours, completing arguably his biggest challenge yet, which has received huge support from those around him.

“My colleagues have been great. The money raised has been tremendous.

“I’ll probably be all emotional when I cross the finishing line. Debs will have got there first, but I’m just looking forward to the after party and I hope I’ve got time to enjoy an hour or so to meet some of the runners and Crimestoppers staff.”

Deborah confirmed that she was confident she’ll finish ahead of Carwyn, but stated they are “not competitive with each other at all,” and would be ready with some treats for him at the finish line.

“I’ll track Carwyn to find him and see how he’s getting on, and soon as he comes through the finish line I’ll have a cold bottle of coke and bag of salty crisps for him. Or if it’s the other way round he can find me with the goodies, and of course we’ll have a photo!”
Crimestoppers is an independent charity that gives people the people to speak up and stop crime 100% anonymously. Always. Our guarantee of anonymity to those who pass on information about crime has not been broken in 30 years.

You can support Carwyn and Deborah on their fundraising page at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CarwynandDeborahEvans