A grand total of more than £900,000 has been raised for Brain Tumour Research thanks to a dedicated team of 162 runners who took on Sunday’s 2026 TCS London Marathon.
We’re extremely grateful to each person who put in tough training, weekend workouts and made sacrifices to complete this feat of endurance for us. It’s a privilege to have you run for the Charity and bring hope to the one in three people who knows someone affected by a brain tumour.
It’s been our biggest and best year ever with runners from the UK, Dubai, USA, Australia and Singapore coming together for the Charity and contributing to our highest amount ever raised for a marathon.
Among those who crossed the iconic finish line on The Mall was Chloe Bavin, from Somerset, who ran 26.2 miles in support of her mum Natalie Fry, who was diagnosed with a schwannoma in 2023.
After undergoing emergency surgery and suffering a life-threatening brain bleed, Natalie spent three weeks in an induced coma. Against the odds, she survived, spending six months in hospital, learning to speak and walk again – and is now back at work, despite ongoing challenges.
"Running the London Marathon means everything to me. During the darkest days, running became my therapy - the only time my mind could switch off from the trauma. To now be running 26.2 miles for Mum, and to still have her here cheering me on, is something I will never take for granted. This marathon is about hope. It’s about showing other families that they’re not alone, and about raising vital funds so that one day no one has to go through what we have," said Chloe.
Chloe at the marathon and on a bus stop billboard
Our Ambassadors, rugby players Tom and Vicky Chapman achieved their first marathon medals, raising more than £17,000.
Tom said: “I’ve just finished my ninth round of chemotherapy and pushed the next round back by a few days so it didn’t fall during the marathon. Running this race with Vicky meant the world to me. Neither of us has run a marathon before but what we’ve been though over the past year has made us stronger than we ever knew possible.”
Almost 10 weeks before the marathon Vicky tore her calf tendon and was advised not to participate due to the risk of rupturing her Achilles. Determined to run with Tom, she pushed through rehabilitation and committed to training to make it to the starting line, saying: “When we started training for this, our aim was to cross the finish line together. My calf kept tightening and I had to walk at times which was frustrating. It took me longer than I hoped and I felt like I let us down. Once the dust settles, I’m sure I’ll be proud of the fact that I finished, and it was always about so much more than getting a good run time. Thanks so much to everyone who supported and donated.”
Tom and Vicky
After losing his mother, Yvonne Piddington, to a glioblastoma in January 2024, London bus driver Andrew took on this epic challenge to help us fund much-needed research and improve outcomes for patients facing this type of incurable brain cancer.
Having already run the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October 2024, raising £2,800 – enough to sponsor more than a day of research at one of our Research Centres of Excellence, Andrew said: “Even though she was going through the whole illness and chemotherapy, Mum came up to London and she cheered me on. You couldn't stop her. The London Marathon is twice the distance, but this is for my mum. She will be in my mind and my heart, and I'm going to raise the money for her, and so that one day no family has to go through this. It's just heartbreaking.”
Andrew
Running the capital’s world-famous race in memory of his wife Paula Heister who died of a glioblastoma in 2025, Chris Jones said: “When I saw the marathon was taking place on the one-year anniversary of Paula's death and learnt that Brain Tumour Research offered the opportunity to run, I knew I had to go for it. Running suspends my mind from wandering, and it's helping me deal with the physical effects of grief. Running has helped me to keep going, and raising money through the marathon gives me a positive target for that day. Brain Tumour Research supports vital research into brain cancer, and the work of young researchers who dedicate themselves to finding new treatments – Paula would approve.”
Paula taught medicine at Downing College, University of Cambridge and had gone to hospital with headaches and numbness on the left side of her body just eight weeks before she passed away from the aggressive tumour.
“I watched Paula become weaker and less mobile every day. Despite Paula’s incredible bravery, the speed of it all was profoundly difficult. A year later, running the London Marathon gives me a positive focus on the anniversary of her death,” added Chris.
Chris at the marathon and with Paula
Thank you to everyone who took part in the TCS London Marathon 2026.
Inspired by our runners and thinking of taking part in the 2027 London Marathon? We’ve got places available and would be delighted to have your support. Register now and we’ll be in touch with all the details you need.
Or why not enter the ballot and see if you’ll be one of the lucky ones taking to the start line in April 2027? Enter here and if you secure a spot, you can run for Brain Tumour Research.
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