A local hospital worker is currently training for the London Marathon as she hopes to give back to a charity that has supported countless local families.

Elle Atkin, aged 30, decided to take on the challenge after receiving a newsletter from the charity React.

The charity helps provide funding and specialist equipment like wheelchairs and mobility aid to the families of children with additional needs.

They have been a vital contact throughout her work as a family care sister at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Sheffield Children's Hospital family care sister Elle Atkin is preparing to take on the London Marathon in April to support React, a charity that provides equipment to families of young people with additional needs. | Submit

placeholder image — Sheffield Children's Hospital family care sister Elle Atkin is preparing to take on the London Marathon in April to support React, a charity that provides equipment to families of young people with additional needs. | Submit

“I support all the families who come here straight from admissions,” Elle told The Star.

“So I’ll talk with them about what there needs are at home and in hospital, and help them wit financial stresses or any family issues.”

Elle explained that her role makes her a regular point of contact for families utilising the children’s hospital’s services, and that React have been able to help out many people struggling to cover the costs of equipment their child may need, or even just the basic costs of living as they take more time out of work to provide care.

“I know how much that money means to the families,” she added.

“But they’ve had to stall applications because funding is not coming in as fast as the applications are, so that made me want to do the marathon.”

Support Elle’s fundraiser here.

She describes her fundraiser as her chance to ‘give back’ to the charity which has done so much for the people she works with.

In total, she hopes to raise £3,000, and in only five days has already managed to collect £670.

Describing herself as a ‘leisurely runner’, Elle - who is originally from Greenhill but now lives in Chesterfield - is currently training to get herself ready for the much-loved marathon on April 26, 2026.

“I’ve never done anything major - the most I’ve done is a 10k,” she said.

“It’s fun at the minute, but I’m just trying to take it week by week rather than looking at the end goal.”

To keep track of her journey, Elle has created an Instagram account called ‘running4react’ where she is releasing blogs and updates about her training.