Why we’re running the London Marathon: five charity runners’ tales

To remember my son, Jake

Jo-Ann Ellis, 36
Jo-Ann is running with her sister, Nicola, to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group in memory of her son, Jake, who was diagnosed with a rare aggressive tumour called rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 11 months. Jake underwent three major operations, nine sessions of chemotherapy and six full weeks of radiotherapy. After his cancer returned for a third time, Jake died in November 2008, aged five.

“My family is never complete without Jake, but helping people and raising money helps so much,” Jo-Ann says. “I ran the London marathon in 2014 and raised nearly £7,000. It was an amazing experience so I had to share it with my sister Nicola; sisters are doing it together hand-in hand for our special boy Jake.”

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To raise money for the charity we founded

Aimee Perry, 25
Aimee Perry and her father, Alan Pye, are raising money for Lilly Uganda. The charity was established by Aimee and her sister, Charlotte, after they visited Uganda and were struck by the poverty.

In 2013, they opened Rafiki House in Kampala, a home for vulnerable children who have either been abandoned or have relatives in extreme poverty. “Dad and I will be running for Lilly Uganda as we want to ensure the kids we look after in Uganda can get an education,” Aimee says. “They are inspiring kids and deserve a helping hand.”

To continue where our mother left off

The Martins – Rosie, 24, Ella, 22, and Will, 20
Siblings Rosie, Ella and Will Martin are running for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of their mother, Sand, who died last year after a three-month battle with ovarian cancer. Before her diagnosis, Sand had set and achieved her goal of running for at least 20 minutes every day for 365 consecutive days.

“We’re running the London marathon in the memory and spirit of our Mum and to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support,” Rosie says. “We want to highlight the amazing work that Macmillan does and to raise as much money as possible so that people like us can continue to receive the support we need.”

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To recognise my daughter’s courage

Julian Colborne-Baber, 38
On Monday 20 April, Julian ran the first of his “seven marathons in seven days” which are due to finish when he completes his final marathon in London. He is running for the Royal Marsden hospital, London, which cared for his daughter, Steffi, after she was diagnosed at 23 months with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

“Life has changed so much and Steffi has been through so much. Her treatment is intense; some days are good and some less so, but she is showing remarkable courage and humour throughout her ordeal. Whatever pain I have to overcome to complete seven marathons in seven days will be nothing compared to what my beautiful daughter has bravely faced.”

To say thank you for saving our son

Andy Rayner, 31
In 2014, Andy’s wife, Elaine, went into premature labour and gave birth to Sebastian, who weighed just 1lb 9oz. For the first three months of his life, Seb was cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit at King’s College hospital, south London, where he battled kidney failure, a bleed on his lungs and a hole in his heart. He had numerous blood transfusions and was put on a ventilator.

“As a parent, it was the hardest thing to watch your tiny helpless baby struggling so much, but it was also inspiring and one of our proudest moments when we saw him fighting back every single day,” Elaine says. “Seb is now four months old and weighing in at over 5lb. We owe everything to the NICU team at King’s College hospital, who have helped give Seb a fighting chance at life.”