Racing for reasons close to the heart
So many of our runners were driven by powerful personal stories. Some ran in memory of lost sons, brothers, nieces and cousins; others, like the relatives of our trustee Claire Gore, ran to honour those still fighting. Minnie ran for Lily in tribute to her mum, Abby – a former trustee of our charity who sadly passed away from cancer two years ago – while one incredible supporter even travelled all the way from the USA to represent us.
Many participants in the marathon are looking for a quick time, and we had five Lily runners finishing in under four hours, which is a huge achievement. Our fastest finisher was Chay Garside, running for Team Ivy, who clocked an incredible 3 hours 17 minutes.
But the most powerful reminder of what this challenge is really about came from Kai-Anne, whose daughter Remi lives with mitochondrial disease. A self-confessed non-runner, Kai-Anne crossed the line in 8 hours and 18 minutes – a true demonstration of how far courage and determination can take you.
As the runners battled the heat, our legendary cheer squads made just as much noise as ever, basking in the glorious sunshine and lifting spirits every mile of the way.
Support beyond the finish line
And after the race, runners and supporters alike gathered at The Horse & Groom in Belgravia to celebrate. Huge thanks to Afrim and his team at the pub for their warm welcome, and to Fiona and Debbie for providing post-race massages to soothe those tired legs!
Despite the tough conditions, everyone was filled with positivity as they reflected on their incredible achievement. Runner Joe said after the race: “A massive thank you to The Lily Foundation for letting us all represent this amazing charity. I hope the money each of us has raised can help the charity take one more huge step in achieving its goals. It has been a pleasure and a privilege.”
“Amazing experience and proud to run for The Lily Foundation,” said Daniel, while Tim thanked everyone for “making me feel so welcome and supported.”
“Seeing the cheer squads really pushed me on,” reflected Katie, while George was grateful for the support, the cheers and, of course, the beers!
You’ve helped us make a difference
The London Marathon remains the world’s largest one-day fundraising event, and once again our incredible Lily team rose to the occasion. We were especially proud to learn that we ranked in the top 5% of charities on JustGiving for funds raised at this year’s event – a remarkable achievement and a true reflection of the dedication and courage of our rare disease community.
A special shoutout goes to Joe and Leo, who each clocked up over £12,000 via JustGiving – an outstanding achievement! Every single penny raised by our amazing runners will go directly towards supporting families living with mitochondrial disease and funding the vital research needed to find effective treatments and a cure. Thank you all – your efforts make a real difference.
Inspired? Join us in 2026!
Feeling inspired by our runners? If you’d like to apply for one of our Lily Foundation charity places, we’d love to have you on board. Good luck! And if you’re successful in securing a spot, as part of Team Lily you won’t be running alone.