21 May 2026
Sunday 26 April 2026 was a very special day as the #TrustTribe pounded the streets of London; the first time the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust have ever had places in the iconic world-famous event.
THANK YOU to every runner, and everyone who donated, everyone who cheered them on, every friend and family member who supported them through training.
Because of the runners' awesome commitment and the generosity of everyone who has supported them, more than £76,000 has so far been raised to inspire young people to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer £76,000! Unbelievable!
And if you missed out this year or have been inspired to give it a go next, applications are open until Sunday 5 July to run the TCS London Marathon for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust in 2027.
Apply now to join the Trust tribe alongside 50,000+ other runners on Sunday 25 April 2027.
Freya Sampson joined her first Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust sailing adventures in 2024, having been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma two years prior, and returned for a second trip last summer.
She said: “The marathon was so much better than I imagined. It’s so true when people say the crowds carry you. Having my name on my top was definitely the best thing, the crowds just cheer you on the whole way round.
"It feels incredibly meaningful and personal to me, especially because I’ve experienced the impact that the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has. Knowing ’m helping other young people who are going through similar challenges is really rewarding.”
Skipper Mike Spanner, meanwhile, donned his best pirate gear for the big day, and even got a shoutout from the commentators – “There’s a pirate on the Mall!”
He said: “It was so great to be there finally after a long training programme covering 1,300km and 90 training runs. I was feeling really confident and ready to enjoy the day. The crowds were fantastic, with plenty of support and call-out for all the runners.
“They gave so much support, you really don’t notice the running so much. The temperature was warmer than expected and with my pirate costume I was starting to feel it by 35k! The atmosphere powered me to the end though and managed a double PB for me – a Personal Best and a Pirate Best!”
Gemma, who became a bit of a local celebrity after appearing on her local BBC Radio station twice in the build up to the marathon, encourages everyone to give it a go: “Do it. You may as well. Around 65,000 steps gets you the glory and a metal whereas the poor spectators clocked up 55,000 and got absolutely nothing for their troubles!
“Raising money is the bit that actually matters. These young people deal with far tougher things than a slightly over-ambitious jog round London. And it’s not just for an afternoon, but for months and years. Puts the whole thing in perspective.”
Meanwhile, Steve Goucher, who chose to run for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust after securing his place through the public ballot, added: “I was taken aback by my own emotions when I got a shout out from the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust team at the Cheer Point. I wasn’t down before then, but I got a very real lift from seeing the support team there.”
2026 roll of honour
Of the 26 who raised money for the Trust, 20 were selected from over 100 incredible applicants. They were:
Additionally, six more runners were successful in the public ballot and chose to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
We are on the lookout for 20 more heroes to take on the TCS London Marathon in 2027. Apply here now - 2027 TCS London Marathon