Southport dad runs for Elsie's 'legacy of hope'

The father of a seven-year-old girl murdered in the Southport attack has told how he used to run with his daughter and taking on a half marathon challenge in her memory was "just something I've got to do".

Elsie Dot Stancombe died alongside Bebe King, six, and Alice Aguiar, nine, in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on 29 July last year.

Her dad David Stancombe and 240 supporters wore ribbons in their hair and glitter on their faces as they ran Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday to raise money for charity, Elsie's Story.

Elsie's mum, Jenni, said she hoped the family's fundraising efforts could "turn heartbreak into hope".

The 35-year-old told BBC Breakfast that Elsie had always "smiled to make other people smile" and had raised money herself for the local hospice.

"She would just never let people go without and if we have an opportunity to raise money and give back for other children in Elsie's memory, that will be a gift for us to do," she said.

Ms Stancombe added: "This is a way for me to be a mum for Elsie now.

"So being a parent to Elsie has just changed now. So where it was about getting her ready every day, and being there, its being there for her in a different way.

"Continuing her legacy - and that legacy with love and hope and actually to say thank you to a community who have been nothing short of incredible."

Mr Stancombe said: "All the training runs I have done for this, is pretty much the route I have done with Elsie."

Explaining why he had run the half marathon, he added: "It's just something I've got to do."

He is also due to run the London Marathon on 27 April.

On his fundraising page he and his running partner said training for the race was a "source of strength and focus during tough times" and a "chance to connect, share heart-to-heart conversations and support each other through the hardest days".

Elsie's mum said her family wanted to help those who had been affected by the Southport attack.

"That generation of children that have been impacted, if we as Elsie's family can help and show them that we're not frightened and actually we are not, we will not let evil win this," she said.

"Then we hope that in time those children will enjoy fun and not live in fear again."

"We really believe that Elsie's Story will be at the heart of it," Ms Stancombe said.

"Elsie's Story will be the good that comes out of that awful day."

Alice Aguiar's father Sergio also ran the half marathon on Sunday.

He is also due to run the London Marathon to raise money for a new £250,000 playground in his daughter's memory.

Axel Rudakubana was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January for murdering the three girls and attempting to murder eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes.

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