'They have saved my life' - Devon lecturer runs London Marathon for domestic abuse charity

Pollyanna Mears, a 35-year-old Health and Social Care lecturer from North Devon, is preparing to take on the London Marathon in April 2026 to raise funds and awareness for North Devon Against Domestic Abuse (NDADA).

Pollyanna, who teaches at North Devon College, says her motivation is rooted in raising awareness of NDADA and the vital support they provide locally.

“I’m running the London Marathon to raise funds for NDADA (North Devon Against Domestic Abuse), a vital local charity that supports individuals and families affected by domestic abuse. NDADA provides life-saving support, advocacy, and guidance for people who may not know where to turn.”

A survivor of domestic abuse herself, Pollyanna wants the focus to remain on the charity rather than her personal story.

“While I’m not looking to share my personal story in detail, I’m passionate about using this challenge to shine a light on the charity, reduce stigma, and encourage people to reach out for support, whether for themselves or someone they care about. They have saved my life, and before I needed them, I had no idea they existed. They have supported me every week for the last year.”

Pollyanna has been training with her son, often joining her on runs in a buggy, and she shares updates on social media to promote NDADA and her fundraising.

ABOVE: Pollyanna Mears runs through Barnstaple with her son in a buggy while training for the London Marathon 2026, raising awareness and funds for NDADA.

“Training is going well so far. It’s been challenging but incredibly rewarding, and I’m sharing parts of the journey through my social media to help keep the focus on awareness, fundraising, and NDADA’s work in the community. Most of my training is running with my buggy (my son will often join me for runs). So people will often see me running around Barnstaple.”

She was recently interviewed by NDADA themselves, an interview shared on their social media platforms to highlight their services.

“Recently, I was interviewed directly by NDADA themselves, and this has been shared on their social media platforms to help highlight both the charity’s work and the importance of reaching out for support.”

Pollyanna is the first person to run the London Marathon for NDADA and has set a fundraising target of £500. She is currently just over halfway to that goal.

On her fundraising page, she said: “After four years in an abusive relationship, I made the hardest and bravest decision, to leave. Since then, I have been rebuilding my life, piece by piece, stride by stride.”

At present, she is just over halfway to that goal, but she is hopeful that local support will help her reach it.

The London Marathon, one of the world’s most famous running events, will take place on Sunday, April 21, 2026, and attracts around 50,000 participants from across the globe. Millions of spectators line the streets of London to cheer on the runners, making it one of the largest annual sporting events in the UK. 

For Pollyanna, however, the challenge is about more than crossing the finish line.

“This marathon is about showing that people can rebuild their lives after trauma,” she said. “It’s about helping NDADA reach those who are still finding their strength. If you can donate, share or simply follow my journey, thank you. Your support helps NDADA reach those who need it most.”

NDADA is a local non-profit organisation based in Barnstaple, England, that provides support, recovery, and refuge for individuals and families affected by domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity, or background. 

The charity offers a wide range of services, including safe accommodation, advocacy, guidance, and community support for adults and children.

The charity explains that domestic abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and coercive behaviour, and can occur in a variety of relationships, from partners and ex-partners to family members. 

NDADA encourages anyone experiencing abuse to reach out for help, even if they do not have visible injuries.

By running the marathon, she hopes to encourage others to contact NDADA and reduce the stigma surrounding domestic abuse. 

Her efforts are aimed at highlighting the charity’s work while motivating the local community to be aware and supportive.

For anyone wishing to support Pollyanna’s campaign, donations can be made online via NDADA’s fundraising page. 

Updates on her training and fundraising progress can also be followed on her social media platforms. NDADA can be contacted by phone between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. For more information about the charity and its services, visit www.ndada.co.uk

You can support Pollyanna here: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/pollyanna-mears-aec10