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A baby loss charity has unveiled a mascot which will take part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon (LLHM).
Abigail the bear will run in support of Abigail's Footsteps, a Chatham-based charity, at the challenge on March 29.
Abigail's Footsteps vice president Cheryl Baker meets the new mascot and greets charity supporters
The group running for the charity were brought together at Brands Hatch racetrack on Saturday to receive t-shirts and meet those behind the cause.
Abigail's Footsteps, launched by David and Jo Ward after the death of their daughter, has 20 runners taking part in the LLHM alongside the mascot.
It is the Medway Messenger's Charity of the Year. It is a baby loss charity providing support and counselling for bereaved parents and families as well as specialist bereavement training for midwives and healthcare professionals.
Anthony Chapman will run dressed as Abigail the bear, and continue to do so at different marathons throughout the year.
Fundraising and events manager Becky Hopkins, who is also taking part in the run, said: "Our runners came and met myself and, of course, the co-founders David and Jo Ward, had a chat and got to know the team.
"There were people there who had gone through the same as Jo and David, but we were all there for the same sort of reason.
"The sense of bringing everyone together and seeing it from a couple of years ago when I was doing the run as a volunteer, I felt that it was a very much needed thing to do, to bring us all together as a team.
The mascot was a surprise to David and Jo who were unaware a dedicated Abigail's mascot was going to participate in the run.
Becky added: "They were all absolutely overwhelmed. They seemed really, really happy with it so that went down well and David was really impressed that we got Anthony Chapman on board, who will run in quite a few races for us."
Around 45 people attended the pre-race meeting which raised £70 towards the charity, even though it wasn't intended to be a fundraiser.
To find out more about the Abigail's Footsteps team, visit their website.
