Anchorsholme military wife beats running nerves to smash target for Royal British Legion

Anita Mellor, 43, a team member at a North Shore Co-op, decided to take part in the Poppy Run organised by the Royal British Legion to raise money for the charity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Anita's husband Simon is a soldier in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, so helping the charity meant a lot to her.

Despite admitting she was "so nervous" about running, Mrs Mellor ran 11km from Anchorsholme to South Pier with Simon, stopping at the Cenotaph to pay their respects.

She has since raised £392 for the charity, significantly more than her original target of £50.

Anita said: "I'm a military wife so it meant a lot to me and my family.

"I wanted to do my bit for The Royal British Legion as no one could do poppy collections this year due to Covid.

"It’s very important to me and our family that they have the support from everyone for our veterans and serving soldiers, and to have some help.

"Especially with things being more difficult right now, with mental health."

The RBL said its Poppy Appeal this year was "helping those who are isolated from family, facing homelessness, struggling to feed their children and are in financial crisis," and was "working tirelessly to ensure that those who have served are being looked after no matter what challenges they, and the country faces."

After meeting husband Simon in their hometown of Congleton, Cheshire in 2004, he joined the army six weeks later and the couple married in 2006.

During Simon's Army career, they moved to Catterick Garrison then Norfolk - where children Lily-Jessica and Jack were born.

After a spell in Germany, they decided to settle down in Anchorsholme in 2018.

Anita continued: "I felt really good after the run, but I struggled at 8km.

"But I dug deep because I didn’t want to let everyone down who had sponsored me and given me support.

"I was made up that I didn't walk at any point. I still feel like it’s not much that I’ve done, but it was on a personal level as it was the furthest I’ve ever run."

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