My Story

This year I’m running the Great North Run for a cause that truly matters—supporting those affected by stalking and controlling behaviour. After seeing the impact of such a tragedy on someone close to me, I want to do something positive. Every step is for awareness, prevention, and hope for a safer future.

I am running for Alice Ruggles trust that was set up after a young women was subject to this behaviour and subsequently lost her life. 

Alices family set this charity up to raise awareness of stalking (including coercive control), to ensure that relevant legislation is effective and adhered to, and to bring about lasting improvements in the management of perpetrators and the protection of victims.

Alice was kind, clever and beautiful. She had an infectious personality and an incredible sense of humour: she saw the fun side of everything. She loved life, loved her friends and loved her job. She had so much to live for. Tragically, Alice was murdered in Gateshead on 12 October 2016, aged just 24.

On 26 April 2017 Trimaan Dhillon was convicted of Alice’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 22 years. His controlling behaviour during their brief relationship had developed afterwards into a relentless campaign of stalking.