You’re running the London Marathon for Amnesty again…
I ran it the first time in 2019, and it was incredible. I’m an ex-rugby player, probably built for comfort rather than speed, and my brief stay in the castle saw me pile on the pounds, but it’s an honour to run for Amnesty again. I’m gradually building up the miles. I’m going to be wearing The Traitors cloak, which is brilliant and also my excuse for probably doing my slowest time ever – I’ll be able to say, well people stopped me for selfies.
Why did you apply to go on The Traitors? I’m a big fan of the show. I’d watched every single one – UK, US, Australia, New Zealand. To put that green cloak on and be in the turret was a dream. As a lawyer, the round table was interesting. I’m accustomed to addressing juries, but you never see how they deliberate. Seeing the herd mentality, the times they get it right and completely wrong, was fascinating. I also love Scotland, castles, amateur theatre – it appealed to my sense of amateur dramatics. It’s a great murder mystery romp. I tapped into my inner Phantom of the Opera.
What aspects of human rights concern you at the moment? Governments ignoring international standards, with dire humanitarian consequences. In the UK, I’m worried by threats to basic standards of human rights, for example calls to move away from the European Convention on Human Rights. The right not to be tortured and the right not to be subjected to inhuman, degrading treatment is something everyone should fight for.
EVENT CALENDAR 2026
13-14 June Cotswold Challenge 22-26 July London to Paris Cycle 6 September Big Half 13 September Great North Run 11 October Royal Parks Half Marathon
We have spaces for many other challenges in 2026, whatever your level and time you can commit. Info:
amnesty.org.uk/cefr
Fantasy fundraising
Lily Winther, 19, is turning Middle-earth into a mission for human rights. The first-year physics student at the University of St Andrews is fundraising for Amnesty by walking the fictional journey from the Shire to Rivendell, inspired by The Lord of the Rings. ‘It’s the first part of the hobbits’ epic journey and is calculated at around 460 miles,’ she says. ‘My plan is to complete the distance through daily walks over 200 days.’ So far, Lily has walked more than 95 miles, from frosty six-mile hill routes near her home in Stirlingshire to flat coastal paths around St Andrews, as well as by walking to lectures instead of taking the bus. ‘Each fundraising milestone I hit, I’m filming an iconic scene from the film or book – terrible but fun acting – and uploading it to Instagram and Facebook as a way to keep the donations going,’ she says. Like hobbits Frodo and Sam, this is only part one of Lily’s quest. She will go on to take part in the Kilimanjaro Challenge in August with her boyfriend, Euan Cooper, a Glasgow University student. Between them, their goal is to raise around £7,000 for Amnesty.
‘My mum volunteers for the Centre for Human Ecology, a charity focused on transformative education, and social and ecological justice. She’s opened my eyes to how you can make a difference, no matter how small,’ she says.
‘Through Amnesty, I want to support people wrongfully detained – and the activists, journalists and students who are speaking out.’
Follow Lily’s journey:
justgiving.com/page/lily-winther-2 See her videos at
facebook.com/
lily.winther.7/reels
SPRING 2026 AMNESTY 41
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