Tag: London Marathon

The 14 runners – each with their own very personal stories and reasons for running – completed Sunday’s Marathon on behalf of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) in what is one of the most celebrated events in the London calendar with over 50,000 runners coming together to raise money for a sea of good causes.

The total raised for ACT so far is just over £30,000, with donations still coming in.

Thanking all of the charity’s runners, Bridget Parr, ACT’s Community Fundraising Co-ordinator, said:

“All of them did amazingly. To be able to support them over the last year has been a real honour for me, just to be part of their journey. They are all so inspiring. They all have their own reasons for running – from people whose children have been ill or had life-saving operations, to another running in memory of a friend they lost, to one of our runners, who broke her neck and wasn’t sure she would ever be able to walk again, much less run, so to be there with her family when she passed our cheer point, was very emotional.”

Bridget was part of the ACT ‘cheer squad’ along with the charity’s Head of Community Fundraising, Donna Lee-Willis, positioned to the side of St Paul’s Church in Shadwell – so able to cheer runners at both the 13.5-mile mark and the 22.5-mile mark.

Thanking all of the amazing runners, Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT, said:

“London Marathon is by far one of my favourite events of the year. Watching thousands of people run, walk, jog the streets of London all for causes close to their hearts is emotional and inspiring. I cannot thank Team Addenbrookes enough – you are all simply incredible and we are all super proud of you. I have been cheering on runners at this event for 22 years and every year it fills me with total admiration. The money you have raised for ACT will enable us to continue making our hospital great. THANK YOU SO MUCH.”

All 14 ACT runners completed Sunday’s marathon, but for one, Sarah Barnard-Mitcham, it proved a real challenge after spraining her ankle on a water bottle at the start. She wasn’t feeling great around the 13-mile mark but walked with her sister – and carried on despite not feeling great, completing the 26.2-mile challenge in just over six hours.

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust also got a mention in live coverage of the event when Liza Putwain was interviewed by BBC Sport reporter, Jeanette Kwakye, on the day, interviewing her on her way round the course.

Liza (pictured left) wanted to run for Addenbrooke’s as a way of thanking staff who cared for her after she broke her neck in a freak accident when she was flipped from an inflatable object during an assault course. The mum-of-three had been running the course in memory of her husband Ian, who had died unexpectedly eight months earlier.

Describing how amazing it was to be part of the London Marathon, the film studies teacher from just outside Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk said:

“It sounds corny but when you are running it, it just feels like the whole city just loves each other in a world where there’s so much negativity at the moment. It feels like you are a Premiership footballer because everybody is calling your name and wanting you to win. It’s like they are on your team and cheering you on. I heard ‘Liza come on you can do it’ thousands and thousands of times on Sunday.”

She said the special, emotional moments for her were seeing her three children, Ella, 17, Sophie, 13, and Charlie 11, on the side lines with her sister and niece. Other memorable moments including spotting two signs – Remember Your Why – and one that, she says, is her own mantra – We Can Do Hard Things – which is not surprising when you hear Liza’s own story.

“I say it all the time, to my kids particularly, and they say it back to me when I’m struggling. It’s like we say, we can do hard things. Life is tough but we can get through this, we can do it, so when I saw that sign I was like ‘oh my gosh, that’s my mantra.”

Asked what she is planning next, Liza said she is thinking of applying for a ballot place in the 2026 London Marathon but deferring for a year. She is also planning to run a half marathon with her niece – and do a HYROX event too.

“I was talking to another runner and we were saying it was like childbirth. It’s like, in that moment when you have just run the London Marathon, you’re like, ‘oh my gosh, that was horrific I will never do that again. And then you get the post marathon high and you’re like, ‘this is amazing’ and before you know it you are signing up to do it again.”

Just some of the more personal reasons runners had for taking part include:

• Will Hemsley, running for ACT to thank staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital who cared for his close friend Josh, who sadly lost his life in 2016, aged just 18.
• Liza Putwain, with her story above.
• Alfie Lowe who fundraised for ACT last year after his friend Rhuey was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, raising £1,500 for the charity by hiking the Edale skyline. This year, he ran the London Marathon in memory of his friend Alex Paterson, who they lost last year – saying: “Alex was one of the most loyal, caring and genuine people I knew, and he’s left a giant hole in a lot of our hearts.”
• Chris Loveday whose wife Carly underwent a live kidney transplant at Addenbrooke’s in 2010. Carly fell pregnant in 2011 and was seen at regular intervals by both the transplant team and specialists at the Rosie. Nearly 2 years after her transplant, Carly was admitted to the Rosie with complications and the family were told to expect the worst – and daughter Flo was born by emergency C-section, 7 weeks premature and with life-threatening complications. Flo was cared for initially on NICU for 2 weeks and remained in special care in the Rosie for a further 3 weeks. Thanking Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie for all their care, Chris shared the news that this year, daughter Flo becomes a teenager! 
• Sarah Barnard-Mitcham (pictured below) who was treated at Addenbrooke’s after being diagnosed with High-Grade DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) following a mammogram. Describing the care she received at Addenbrooke’s, Sarah said: “Throughout this process, the care I’ve received at the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s has been nothing short of exceptional.” The hospital is also supporting her sister, Stephanie, as she navigates Early Onset Alzheimer’s, having been diagnosed at just 47. Sarah added: “Over the years, Addenbrooke’s has supported not just my family but countless others in our community. That’s why I’ve chosen to fundraise for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.”

ACT thanked all this year’s “amazing runners” who were: Alex Tarrant, Chris Loveday, Will Hemsley, Richard York-Weaving, Josh Scarlett, Michelle Meads, Liza Putwain, Jack Smith, Ben Smith, Alfie Lowe, Amy De Selincourt, Darren Godfrey, Sarah Barnard-Mitcham, and Tanya Wagstaff.

All of the money raised from Sunday’s marathon will go to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), the official charity for Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie. ACT funds cutting-edge equipment, groundbreaking research, and improvements to the environment for both staff and patients, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.  

** If you would like to run for Team Addenbrooke’s in the 2026 London Marathon, sign up now for one of ACT’s charity places.

Applications can be made online at www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/londonmarathon2026

Runners who would like to apply for a place have until Monday 9 June at 9am. Anyone who is shortlisted will then be offered a telephone interview to talk about their fundraising plans and reasons for running – with TEAM ADDENBROOKES announced the week commencing Monday 23 June.