Meet Julie, who is taking on the 2023 TCS London Marathon with her husband, Rob, for ABF The Soldiers' Charity.

"I am Julie Bolitho from Gulval, Cornwall. I have been running for the last seven years and have done several marathons and some ultras, culminating in the 64-mile Race to the Stones in July 2022.

"When I was 18 I moved to Penzance, where I met my husband, Robert, in 1985. By then he'd already been in the army, having served with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment in Northern Ireland and BAOR (British Army of the Rhine).

"My earliest recollections of my childhood on the Isles of Scilly are of playing with the young Royals when they came over. Mum was a cleaner at the Dutchy of Cornwall offices and we lived in a flat that was part of the building. I remember helping my dad to fold raffle tickets, which is where my passion for fundraising began!

"Rob and I raised money for many charities and causes both local and national – over the years we raised more than £75,000 through regular online auctions. I ran the Penzance Race for Life in 2015 for one of Rob's army friends who died of esophageal cancer, and I got the running bug from there. Match the three together – running, fundraising and close contact with the Armed Forces – and that's me. Three years ago, Rob decided if you can't beat 'em join 'em and started running himself.

"We are proud to run the TCS London Marathon in 2023 for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The cheer points give you a boost as you're going along and at the post-event reception everyone is very welcoming, and nothing is too much trouble. The massage gets your legs moving again for returning to the hotel. We have great relationship with the ABF we are proud of raising the profile of the charity in Cornwall."

To join Julie and Rob and run the 2023 TCS London Marathon for ABF The Soldiers' Charity, click here.