Runner circles Britain’s coastline to raise funds for Samaritans after her own mental health struggles

A FINANCIAL journalist is running a marathon every day for nearly seven months around the entire coastline of Britain in a bid to raise money and awareness for the Samaritans.

Megan Boxall, aged 33, set off on her 5,240-mile challenge from Suffolk in October and aims to finish in May 2026. If successful, she will become the fastest woman ever to run the British coastline, beating the current record of 298 days set by Lindsey ‘Linzi’ Bell.

Megan’s motivation is deeply personal. She has spoken openly about struggling with her mental health over several years and credits running with helping her find hope. During her darkest moments, she reached out to the Samaritans.

She said: “When I was at my lowest, the Samaritans helped me keep going. Their volunteers were there for me when the pain in my brain was so intense I couldn’t even pick myself up off the floor. I only wish I had picked up the phone sooner.”

According to the charity, someone in the UK dies by suicide every 90 minutes, while Samaritans volunteers answer a call for help every ten seconds.

Megan said she hopes her challenge will encourage more people to talk openly about mental health and seek support when they need it.

“I hope that by sharing my experiences with Samaritans, and by raising money as I circle the country, I can help others who are struggling,” she said.

The idea of running the British coastline has stayed with Megan since childhood, inspired by her uncle, Tom Isaacs, who walked the coast after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease aged 33.

She is not completing the journey entirely alone. Megan’s dog, Shadow, will be joining her for parts of the route, with dog-tech sponsor PitPat helping the pair track their miles together.

Along the way, Megan also plans to interview local businesses she meets on her route, highlighting the importance of coastal communities to the UK economy and sharing positive stories from around the country.

So far, she has raised £10,000 towards her £50,000 target and is seeking additional partners to support the challenge, including accommodation providers along the route.

More information about the challenge, and how to support it, can be found at meganboxall.com, or via her JustGiving page.

STAFF and pupils from Orbis Education and Care services in Pembrokeshire have helped donate more than 100 Christmas gift bags to seriously ill children, as part of a Wales-wide festive charity campaign.

The initiative, known as the Build a Bag campaign, saw Orbis staff, pupils and residents from specialist schools and care homes come together to prepare festive goodie bags for children aged between three and 16.

The bags were donated to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity at Cardiff’s Heath Hospital and to Dreams and Wishes, which supports children living with life-limiting conditions.

Pembrokeshire services operated by Orbis include The Old Manse in Haverfordwest, Bangeston Hall and Maes Y Coed in Pembroke Dock, Stockwell in Pembroke Dock, Rosendale in Tenby, and Awel y Mor in Saundersfoot. Staff and residents from these homes took part alongside Orbis services across south and mid Wales.

Each bag was filled with a mixture of toys, games and festive treats, as well as practical items such as clothing and toiletries, aimed at bringing comfort and cheer to children spending Christmas in hospital or dealing with serious illness.

The campaign encouraged pupils and residents supported by Orbis to take an active role in giving back to others, reinforcing values of kindness, empathy and community support during the festive period.

Lou Aubrey, Commercial Director at Orbis Education and Care, said the response from staff and young people had been overwhelming.

She said: “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our staff and pupils and are thrilled to be able to give back to those in need this Christmas.

“It was incredibly moving to see the reaction when we delivered the bags. To be able to support Noah’s Ark Charity and Dreams and Wishes – two charities close to our hearts – is especially meaningful at this time of year.

“We would like to thank everyone who donated and helped make this year’s Build a Bag campaign such a success.”

Orbis Education and Care is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist education and residential services for children, young people and adults with complex needs associated with autism. The organisation employs around 900 staff across Wales and England.

Its Pembrokeshire services provide residential care for adults with autism, supporting individuals to live as independently as possible within their local communities.

Orbis said the Build a Bag campaign also gave pupils and residents a sense of pride in contributing to something positive, while strengthening links between care services and charitable organisations supporting children across Wales.

Pic caption: Orbis Education and Care staff delivering Christmas gift bags to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity (Pic: Orbis).

A MAN from rural Carmarthenshire has been sent to the Crown Court after appearing before magistrates charged with a series of serious sexual offences and alleged breaches of court orders.

Leof Sceaga, aged 57, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday (Dec 19) facing multiple charges relating to indecent images of children, extreme pornography, and failures to comply with restrictions imposed on him by the courts.

Magistrates heard that Sceaga is accused of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, with alleged offences said to have taken place on Thursday (May 8) and during further incidents in December.

The court was told that the charges relate to the creation of prohibited material, rather than simple possession, placing the allegations among the more serious categories of offences dealt with under child protection legislation.

Sceaga is also charged with possessing extreme pornographic images, offences which involve material considered so explicit or violent that it is banned outright under criminal law.

In addition to the image offences, the court heard that Sceaga is accused of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), or an interim version of such an order. SHPOs are imposed by the courts to restrict the behaviour of individuals considered to pose a risk of sexual harm, and can include strict conditions on internet use, devices, and personal conduct.

He is further charged with failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register, with the alleged breach said to have occurred on Thursday (Dec 18). Individuals subject to notification requirements are legally required to keep police informed of key personal details, including address and changes in circumstances.

All matters were considered together by Llanelli magistrates, who concluded that the seriousness of the allegations meant the case was beyond their sentencing powers.

Sceaga was therefore sent to the Crown Court to be indicted. He was remanded in custody, and will next appear before a Crown Court judge at a date to be fixed.

No pleas were entered at this stage, and reporting restrictions apply in line with standard legal protections.