London Marathon 2025 – Thank You Team Red! | London Marathon 2026 – Register Your Interest!
We are so proud of our incredible Team Red runners who took on the 2025 London Marathon in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation – every mile made a difference for families facing the toughest of times.
As we celebrate their achievements, we are excited to look ahead – and invite you to join Team Red for the iconic London Marathon 2026. Applications are now open.
Two Knights & their London Marathon Quest
England cricket legends Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook swapped bats for running shoes, taking on the London Marathon side-by-side. Their incredible fundraising effort – inspired by their legendary 19,509 runs together for England – will help fund vital emotional support services for families when it matters most.
If you were inspired by their journey, there is still time to support our work – every donation helps us reach more families in need.
JOIN OUR SILENT AUCTION
Our special Silent Auction is still live, with some incredible prizes helping to raise vital funds for families facing the toughest tests. Every bid makes a difference. Explore the auction and support families when they need it most.
Our Heroes
Meet the Team Red Heroes Who Made It Happen 🎉
On Sunday 27 April 2025, our runners took on the 26.2-mile challenge not just for personal achievement, but to raise vital awareness and funds for the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
Each runner had their own reason for taking on this extraordinary challenge – from honouring loved ones to helping other families receive the support they need when facing an incurable cancer diagnosis.
If you have been inspired by their dedication, it is not too late to show your support. Every donation – no matter the size – helps us stand alongside more families when they need it most.
“I can’t believe I am doing this again. However, very excited to be running alongside Cookie and it’s a very special way to show our support for all the families out there living with incurable cancer.”
“We have always said the year we turn 40 we would run (well finish!! ) a marathon together and here we are.
There was only one charity we were ever going to do it for as it was Ruth who gave us the idea many years ago after running the marathon herself. So we are really honoured to be running it for the Ruth Strauss foundation.
Family has and will always be so important to us both and the Ruth Strauss Foundation supports both parents and children when they are going through the toughest of times, providing support for families who are preparing for the death of a parent.
So despite dodgy knees, calves, and maybe a slightly hobbling but determined Alice we are ready to take on the challenge! ( At two very different paces 😆)
Any support for this wonderful charity will be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.”
“Working in sport, I’ve seen firsthand how major events like the marathon can shine a spotlight on causes that truly matter. Taking part is my way of raising awareness for the incredible support RSF provides to families – and helping ensure more people know this help is out there.”
“On April 27th, for some daft reason I will be taking on the incredible challenge of running the London Marathon again! I should have learnt from my previous experience 15 years ago however this is an opportunity that I’m truly excited about, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to raise vital funds for the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
The mission of the Ruth Strauss Foundation is to help provide emotional support for families with dependent children to prepare for the death of a parent from cancer; and raises awareness and funds for research into rare lung cancers. Every pound you donate will make a difference in funding visionary research into rare lung cancers and vital wellbeing support to meet the emotional & psychological needs of families where a parent is living with an incurable cancer. Fighting the lung cancers you don’t hear about. Supporting the suffering you don’t see.
Having 2 young children myself & Helen could not imagine going through something so profoundly life changing on our own and want to do something to support such a wonderful charity.
Running 26.2 miles will certainly be tough, but knowing I can contribute to this amazing cause gives me the motivation to keep going. Every donation, big or small, will make an impact.
Your generosity means the world—not just to me but to everyone who will benefit from the work of the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
Thank you for your support and wish me luck!”
“Why am I fundraising?
My beautiful friend Charlie Maxwell was diagnosed with Stage IV (4) Adenocarcinoma with EGFR+ Exon 19 deletion (Lung Cancer) in Nov ’23. She was 44 years old and just 5 weeks away from retiring from the Army after 22 years’ service.
Charlie’s story
She was diagnosed after randomly coughing up a blood clot in the shower. After visiting my her GP, she was told to report to A&E. A chest X-ray was taken and a few other tests performed and, initially, she was informed that everything was clear and that she didn’t need any further imaging.
However, 3 weeks later she received an urgent phone call from A&E telling her that she had a shadow on her lung and to report back to the hospital for a chest CT. Having always been fit and active, having had no further blood clots and no real symptoms that she was aware of, she never expected to be told that she had Stage IV Lung Cancer. And if that wasn’t enough, she was even more gutted to be informed that she also had multiple Pulmonary Embolisms (PE’s) and had to stop all physical activity immediately!
Charlie has been very grateful that her cancer is oncodriven, and that there is a targeted treatment available to her. The Osimertinib drug has given her time and opportunities. Today (18/03/25) as I write this my beautiful Charlie is currently having part of her lung removed and the affected lymph nodes.
Who is this fundraising going to and why?
I asked Charlie who would she like the money to be raised for. This is her story. We both agreed Ruth Strauss is an amazing charity and does an incredible amount for research and for those directly affected by these diagnoses of Lung cancer.
If Charlie has to endure and she has endured so much for this 18 months the very least I can do is run a few miles. But not just 26.2 miles but yes for those that know me… in fancy dress…. YES… As a pair of inflatable LUNGS!!! What better way to get people to look at who and what I am fundraising for.
I am not in my 20’s anymore, I am very much heading to the other end of 30’s. My physical ability has been limited over the last 2 years with an awfully painful back and having had ankle reconstruction 13 months ago. So I don’t expect miracle timings but what I expect is to complete it and raise as much money and awareness as I can so where you can PLEASE help me HELP OTHERS.
As Charlie says You Only Live Once (YOLO).”
“Marathon training is a rewarding, challenging, thrilling, intimidating, emotional and physical roller-coaster! Each and every hard fought for step is taken in memory of my friend Rob Collingwood and his beautiful family, Hattie, Thomas (10) and Lulu (7) – if you can imagine heart/laughing/smiling emojis popping from them you’ll get a good idea of what it’s like to be in their company.
Rob REALLY loved living but cancer is cruel. It took Rob after a brutal battle leaving his wife, children, family and friends absolutely devastated. Ruth Strauss stepped in and provided Hattie, Thomas and Lulu with support when they needed it most. When I run the London Marathon on April 27th it will be as a HUGE thank you for the incredible love and care the Ruth Strauss Foundation continue to take of Hattie’s family. Keep up your good work – you are changing lives.”
“Having successfully completed my 2024 challenge of running 10km a day for 145 consecutive days and covering 950 miles I’m challenging myself this year to run 6 distance events over a 6 month consecutive period. Between April and September I will be running 2 marathons (London in April and Edinburgh in May), 2 half marathons (Newcastle in July and Ipswich in September) and 2 10ks (Leeds in June and York in August) in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation. My fundraising goal is £10,000.
Whilst a significant challenge in itself I have decided to make it a little more interesting by running all of these in full batting kit! That’s pads, gloves, cap and a bat!
I’m continuing to take on these challenges in tribute to my wife Erika who sadly passed away in July 2022 having been diagnosed 18 months earlier with stage 4, incurable bowel cancer. Despite receiving such devastating news Erika instinctively knew that we needed to talk to our children about her diagnosis and the cancer journey that lay ahead regardless of how painful and difficult this would be. She did so as she was determined that her cancer would not define them, their future or our family and that they would continue to thrive when she was no longer able to be with us.
The bravery and selflessness she showed in doing so during this difficult time is beyond words but has been instrumental in helping the children and I prepare for and grieve her loss. In tribute to Erika and to build on her legacy we are supporting the amazing pre-bereavement work that the Ruth Strauss Foundation do in helping other families prepare their children for the very sad loss of a parent or carer.
Tragically, 46,300 children under the age of 18 are affected by the loss of a parent or carer each year in the UK. That’s an average of 127 children each day who face such devastating loss.
On behalf of every young person and their family who will benefit from your donation, thank you.”
“This year will be 20 years since I lost my mother to Breast Cancer, it is also 5 years since Ian lost his Dad to Cancer, and 4 years since we lost our wonderful cousin Amy to Sarcoma.
Every family, friend and life we know has been touched by a story of Cancer. Every mile we run, we are grateful to know that we can not only run, but also that we can go home to our family and our boys, in the knowledge that others can’t and their lives have been cut short.
Ian and I will be running to raise money for causes that are dear to our hearts, being Cancer Research UK, Sarcoma UK, and the Ruth Strauss Foundation, a charity that Ian volunteers for that raises money for non-smoking lung cancers, and pre-bereavement counselling.
During 2024, and into 2025, both Ian and I will be aiming to complete the following events:
1) The Windsor Easter 50km Ultra Marathon – tick… done!
2) The 110km run round the Isle of Wight Challenge – tick…. done…. recovering!
3) The New York Marathon – 3rd November 2024
4) The London Marathon – 27th April 2025.
Then we will have cup of tea, and a sit down.
Please help us to remember and recognise the kindness, intelligence and fun-loving spirit of the people that inspired us all to embrace life fully. Please help us to make every mile count!
With love, Sarah & Ian”
Get Involved
Volunteer with RSF at the London Marathon
Become an RSF volunteer and be part of something meaningful by joining our cheer station at the TCS London Marathon. As an official Ruth Strauss Foundation volunteer, you’ll help energise and support our incredible runners – from cricketing greats to passionate fundraisers – as they take on 26.2 miles. Your encouragement at Mile 25 could be the boost they need to reach the finish line, all while raising vital funds for families facing the toughest of times.
Cheering Point
Cheer the #RunforRuth Team!
Simply show up, wear red, and join our staff and volunteers at Mile 25 under the bridge from Embankment – one of the final and most vital parts of the race. As our runners push through the last mile, your cheers will make all the difference. Just exit Embankment station and turn left to find the RSF cheer station. Come be part of the energy and help make the day unforgettable!
”"To every single runner who is taking on the 2025 London Marathon for our charity - thank you. Your determination, training, and fundraising so far has been nothing short of extraordinary. Marathon day is one of the most powerful moments in the year for charitable giving, and we're incredibly proud to have you involved with our journey. On 27th April, you're not just running a race – you're running with purpose, strength, and heart. Every mile helps us continue to stand alongside families going through their toughest times. We’re behind you all the way. Let’s keep going, together. #RunforRuth"
Ines ThiruCEO, Ruth Strauss Foundation
Registrations are now closed.
