Beth's Beavers are set to take on the Yorkshire Marathon

Beth’s Beavers are a group of family and friends who have come together to raise money for West Yorkshire-based charity TalkThru, in memory of our ray of sunshine, Beth Claire Smith.

We’re called ‘Beth’s Beavers’ in honour of Beth, as Mrs Beaver was one of the first roles she played in her years on stage with amateur theatre in Halifax. Since November 2020 we’ve already raised more than £15k for TalkThru, with events including a skydive, an online quiz night, cake sales, an alcohol-free challenge, a raffle, walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and much more.

Now, as the final event in our year of fundraising, more than 30 of us are set to run the Yorkshire Marathon and Marathon Relay. Most of us have never even run for a bus before, let alone a road race, but we’re determined to come together, have fun, and fulfil our goal in Beth’s memory.

The aim of our fundraising is to do something just a tiny bit as incredible as Beth was, and keep building on the wonderful legacy she created.

As a maths specialist, Beth's work with White Rose Maths genuinely changed the way maths is taught for thousands of children. And through her dedication to amateur theatre, Beth inspired and supported young people in Halifax and beyond to get on stage and achieve their dreams. We are determined her passion will live on.

As all those who knew her will attest, Beth was generous, vivacious, energetic, as well a source of love and inspiration to so many people. She died suddenly in November 2020, at the age of just 31, after suffering a sudden DVT (deep vein thrombosis).

Prior to her tragic death, Beth and her husband Ian had suffered a series of miscarriages, including the devastating loss of their daughter Poppy at 19 weeks of pregnancy. To help cope through these most difficult of times, Beth sought help from the fantastic local charity, Talkthru.

The counsellors at Talkthru helped Beth feel positive for the future and gave her the courage to share her experiences with others. In a Facebook post sharing her experiences, she described contacting Talkthru as "the best choice I have ever made." That's why, in Beth's memory, we're raising money for this amazing charity.

We hope that donating to Talkthru will help others who are struggling and that even after her passing, Beth will continue to bring light and hope to people's lives - just as she did in life.

We love you Beth, and know you’ll be cheering us on as we tackle the Yorkshire Marathon Relay in your memory.

To support Beth’s Beavers and donate to TalkThru, visit the website here: Virgin Money Giving | For Beth Smith

By Jeni Harvey (Beth’s sister)