Meet our London Marathon Runners 2025
Among these thousands are some truly remarkable people who have dedicated the past six months to fundraising for Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre. They’ve logged countless steps, invested their time, and poured their hearts into preparing for their victory lap on Sunday, April 27th, in the UK’s capital. So far, they’ve raised an incredible £12,989 for Primrose Hospice!
As they gear up to lace their trainers, we’re excited to introduce you to some of these inspiring runners. Discover their personal stories, learn why they chose to support Primrose, and see how they’ve been preparing up for the big day. Keep reading to get to know these amazing individuals a little better…
Several reasons. It was important for me to fundraise for a local charity, and I have done a bit of fundraising for Primrose before in memory of a friend. That friend and her family were also a big reason for me choosing Primrose.Their bravery, spirit and strength is inspirational – I wanted to recognise and celebrate that, and do my bit to help others who are going through similar experiences.
I suppose, depending on your definition of funny – me falling over (quite spectacularly) during a 2k Junior Park Run with my kids less than 24 hours after celebrating a successful 16 mile run could be it. There was no damage done (to my foot at least, which I landed on…but my pride was another matter!) and I am sure to the casual observer, it must have looked hilarious…who doesn’t love a bit of slapstick humour?!
The hardest thing has been fitting in the weekday runs whilst managing my commute – I never thought I’d be clocking into the gym at 4am, but it’s happened more than a few times recently. On the plus side, I get to be the super smug person at work that has already hit over 10k steps before setting foot in the office!
If it could be arranged for my favourite band ‘The 1975’ to be performing alongside me the entire way, I think I’d be on track for a PB! That’s not too much to ask, is it?
I suspect there is nothing original about this answer, but for very good reason – I am very much looking forward to a big meal, a hot bath, and a sleep. I have got my post race meal planned and the table is already booked! I also think a spa day might be in order.
Primrose is a local charity, you’ve not only helped my granddad but you’ve also supported a number of relatives of close friends of mine. You don’t just provide support to the person who is ill. You extend your support to embrace the whole family. Realising and understanding how the impact of an illness has further implications. Speaking to my friends, they honestly wouldn’t have coped without your support at the time.
Training through the winter was interesting. On one rather chilly, minus 5 run the water froze in the tube to my back pack. I certainly didn’t expect that to happen.
I’d love my cheering squad to include all my grandparents. I only started running in 2019 because I begged Primrose to let me run London! So that was the start of my running journey. Sadly none of my grandparents are still here and they have no idea this is something I do! I’m sure they’d think I’m crazy, it’s a common thought but I think they’d be very proud and supportive.
I’m most looking forward to hugging my family and taking plenty of medal pics, there’s no point running that far and keeping it a secret! The next challenge will be going down stairs for 2 days! I’m then running a 52k ultra 3 weeks later to celebrate turning 50 this year. Although I’m thinking a party might have been an easier option!
I first learnt about Primrose Hospice through my running club Redditch Stars. The club has raised funds for Primrose over the years and they have been extremely supportive to so many local families and when I decided to run London, they were top of my list to fund raise for. I am honoured to be chosen to represent them in the TCS London 2025 Marathon.
Training in winter has been hard, especially running in -5° but the support I have is incredible, my husband Paul has become even more of a domestic king whilst I have been running, my friend Rick who has run with me and repeated more than a 1000 times “you can do this” even when I’ve called him names and my friends in Redditch Stars training for marathons supporting each other. I’ve discovered you really can just talk about anything whilst running for hours and hours!
I think I would be highly motivated if Brad Pitt or Tom Hardy turned up to cheer for me on the day.
I’m looking forward to seeing my husband Paul and sons Zachary and Elliot on the day and on the weekends again!
1. What inspired you to choose Primrose Hospice as your charity for the London Marathon, and is there a personal connection?
My friend Jen works at Primrose Hospice and I know what an incredible service they provide but fundraising is essential to keep everything running so it was an easy choice.
2. What’s been the most funny or difficult part of your training journey so far? Any funny mishaps or surprising discoveries?
Training has been hard, running through winter was rank! Sadly I have had some issues with my hips so training hasn’t been going to plan but that’s out of my control so I’m going to do my very best on the day and dig deep!
3. If you could design your dream cheering squad for the marathon, what would it look like? Famous people, costumes, music, props—anything goes!
To be honest the dream would be to have all my friends and family there, my parents are in their 70’s so I told them not to come as it’s such a long day and I felt it would be too much. My husband will have to do all the cheering!
4. Running a marathon is no small feat—what are you most looking forward to when you cross that finish line?
I’m looking forward to it being over but also knowing what a huge challenge I have completed! Another one off the bucket list!
I am in no way a natural runner! I’ve never really exercised for any sustained amount of time after leaving school (quite a while ago I may add…), the odd Zumba class here and there and several un-used gym memberships. I’ve been gradually working my way up to this challenge, having completed the Timberhonger 10k in 2022 and the Birmingham Half Marathon in 2023. I’ve been a fundraiser for the Primrose Hospice for nearly three years now and since I started it’s been my ambition to run the Marathon. I wanted to do the hardest thing I could imagine knowing that it would only be a fraction of what our patients go though. I try to start or finish all my runs from the Hospice, it reminds me why in the earth I’m doing this and really in the grand scheme of things that this isn’t hard at all.
My body will never ever be the same again, I’ve hurt my knees, my hips, my feet and not lost a lb in the process! But training has given me a new appreciation of my body, and that I probably need to take better care of it. Training hasn’t been easy, there have been a few mishaps which aren’t suitable to print and my night before preparation hasn’t always been the best… (it is possible to run on no sleep and a hangover but not advisable)
I think when your sweaty, tired and hurting all your going to want to be surrounded by is the people that mean the most to you. This will be my husband, who has picked up the slack at home while I’ve been training, my lovely kids (whom being teenagers I’m not 100% sure they are even aware that I’m taking part), my mom who has tirelessly fundraised for me and my friends who have got me through this. Without them (they know who they are) I would still be running in my ill-fitting trainers, my husband’s socks and with no water. Their advice, support and encouragement really has meant the world and probably avoided my hospitalisation.
Rum, chips, sleep and to never, ever, ever have to run again.
As soon as I got my ballot place in the London Marathon I knew I wanted to do it for a charity with a personal connection to myself and my family. I chose Primrose Hospice in memory of my grandad, Eddie. He sadly passed away just over a year ago but had been a supporter of the hospice so running for Primrose felt like a meaningful way to honour him.
One of the funniest—and slightly terrifying—moments happened during one of my long runs. I was running along a canal path when I came across a goose standing right in the middle of the trail. I tried to go around it, but it started hissing and flapping at me! I ended up having to stop and wait a couple of minutes for another person (that was braver than me) to walk past it and just ran behind them. So, unexpected discovery: I now have a fear of geese.
As for the hardest part, it’s definitely been the mental perseverance—pushing myself to head out for every run, especially after a long day at work or following a rough session. Staying committed to the training, even when motivation dips, has been a real challenge
Honestly, I think my family and friends would be the best cheering squad—even in a dream scenario as they’ve been there through all the pain of training. To make it more fun, I’d have them spread out along the course as mile markers, each dressed in something ridiculous. I think knowing they’re waiting for me at each mile, looking completely ridiculous, would definitely keep me going along with some energetic music the whole way.
I honestly just can’t wait to see my friends and family at the finish line—they’re making the trip to London to support me, and knowing they’ll be there at the end I think will definitely help me get through it.
And I won’t lie… I’m seriously looking forward to that a pint. I’ve given up drinking during training, so it’s been a long time coming.
