We recently sat down with the lovely Emma Bone, a local 21-year-old from Inverness, to chat about an incredible challenge she has ahead of her, running the London Marathon in 2026 in support of Halo!
What makes this even more special? Not that long ago, Emma couldn’t even run a 5k.
Emma told us how the whole thing started as a bit of a joke between her and a friend. “We used to say we’d run the London Marathon one day, even though neither of us were runners at the time,” she said. Things changed in March 2023 when Emma signed up for the Inverness Half Marathon, which was partly thanks to a competitive streak and family members taking part. After that, she was hooked.
A few months later, encouraged by a TikTok and a nudge from her friend, Emma entered the London Marathon ballot… and got in! “When that email came through saying I’d been selected, I couldn’t believe it,” she told us.
When it came to choosing a charity to run for, Emma said that she had heard about Halo through a family member, and the stories she learned really stayed with her. With a marathon ahead of her, she felt it was the perfect opportunity to give something back.
“I was really lucky growing up,” Emma shared. “I had an amazing childhood with no real worries, my biggest concern was when I could get back out to play after dinner. I truly believe no child should ever go without or be worrying about problems that only adults should have to worry about.”
Training for a marathon isn’t easy, especially when you’re juggling university life and working part-time at Dunelm but Emma has been taking it all in her stride (most days!). She spoke about the support she’s had from her coach Rhys, who’s been a huge part of her running journey, offering guidance, encouragement, and a push on the days she needs it most.
When training feels tough, Emma keeps her eyes on the finish line. “I just picture crossing it and being able to say I’ve run a marathon,” she said. “It’s such an incredible event, and I feel so grateful just to be part of it, especially if I can raise money to help support children and families through Halo at the same time.”
We’re so incredibly grateful to Emma for choosing to support Halo and for taking on such a huge challenge to help local children and families across the Highlands. We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way!
If you’d like to support Emma and her London Marathon journey, you can donate via her JustGiving page here.
Thank you, Emma! We’re so proud to have you on Team Halo 💛