A Suffolk farming professional hopes to give an agricultural charity a healthy cash boost when she runs the London Marathon on April 22.

Ipswich Star: Annabel James, of Erwarton on the Shotley Peninsula, who is running to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) in the London Marathon. Picture: WILLIAM WRINCHAnnabel James, of Erwarton on the Shotley Peninsula, who is running to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) in the London Marathon. Picture: WILLIAM WRINCH (Image: Archant)

Annabel James, who lives on a farm at Erwarton, on the Shotley Peninsula, works as a consultant providing accounts and crop recording software to farms across East Anglia.

Now she’s hoping to complete the race in under four hours and raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI), which runs a range of services, including a care home in Bury St Edmunds.

“They are simply a fantastic charity dedicated to helping those involved in agriculture in their times of need,” she said.

“I know that the work our farmers do is 365 days a year, can be backbreaking but also very isolating and it can be hard for them to know where to turn when things go wrong – which with prices being as volatile as they are, is a worry frequently at the back our farmers’ minds.

Ipswich Star: Annabel James, of Erwarton on the Shotley Peninsula, who is running to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) in the London Marathon. Picture: WILLIAM WRINCHAnnabel James, of Erwarton on the Shotley Peninsula, who is running to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) in the London Marathon. Picture: WILLIAM WRINCH (Image: Archant)

“RABI provide one off payments in the light of disaster such as illness or bereavment – this might be in the form of relief workers if the main breadwinner on the family farm is unable to work. They also provide long term support when required.”

She added: “Everyone needs help sometimes and with farming still having the highest rate of suicide of any sector, it is so important that the work of RABI is available to help those who have fallen on hard times.”

Annabel, whose partner is William Wrinch, studied at the Royal Agricultural University and comes from a farming background. William’s father, also William, runs a farming business on the peninsula.

She will be throwing a fundraising ‘hoedown’ and auction in the coming weeks, running a sweepstake on her completion time for prizes and approaching the big machinery manufacturers to secure sponsorship.

“Completing the marathon has always been on my bucket list. I am already up to 19 mile long runs and over 45 miles total per week – as well as horse riding, weight training and dog walkin,” she said. “I have always been an active and energetic person and the marathon is an opportunity for me to indulge in that further.”

To sponsor Annabel, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/running-for-rabi or text RABI98 with the amount to 70070.