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The inspiring people taking on the 2023 TCS London Marathon
Meet some of the incredible people taking on
the 26.2-mile challenge this year
Thousands of participants will take on the 2023 TCS London Marathon on
Sunday 23 April, each with their own powerful reason to run - but for some,
the event holds particular poignance and significance. Here is a selection
of inspiring stories from some of this year's participants.
Roman Kashpur, 24, from Kharkiv, Ukraine
Roman was a member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served as a solider
protecting the country against ongoing Russian hostilities. He was injured
in May 2019 while fighting in the Donetsk region, and now has a prosthetic
leg. After his recovery he continued to keep fit and, with the support of
his wife and young family, is now training to run the TCS London Marathon
for the first time.
Through his running he hopes to raise money for injured Ukrainian soldiers
and to inspire those with disabilities. Roman said: "Charity is what
distinguishes the London Marathon. I run to raise awareness for the wounded
Ukrainian soldiers who have lost limbs in this war - to raise additional
funds for state-of-the-art prosthetics, rehabilitation and social support
programs for wounded soldiers.
"Sport is extremely helpful in the psychological and physical
rehabilitation of people whose health was affected by the war. I want to
show people who, like me, have faced a serious injury in life, that through
sport you can recover and continue an active, fulfilling life [and] achieve
your goals."
Flora Turnbull, 31, from Suffolk
- Charity: Prostate Cancer UK
Flora, daughter of former BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull, is running her
first TCS London Marathon for the charity Prostate Cancer UK in memory of
her father, who died of prostate cancer in the summer of 2022.
After Bill's diagnosis became public in 2018, there was a huge spike in
diagnoses across the UK - referred to by Prostate Cancer UK as the
Fry-Turnball effect, named after both Bill and fellow national treasure
Stephen Fry, who was also diagnosed in 2018.
Bill's bravery in speaking out about his disease continues to help men
across the country understand the condition, and his public support of
Prostate Cancer UK was key in highlighting the vital need for a screening
programme to help make sure more men have their cancer caught early.
Flora, an English teacher, hopes to continue his legacy. She said: "From
the public announcement of his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018, my dad
worked hard to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men. Since his
death, we as a family have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and
thanks from people across the nation, and in particular those men who were
inspired to learn more about their own prostate cancer risk and speak to
their GP.
"To hear someone say that my dad saved their life is true testament to his
memory, and now I want to play my part in ensuring his legacy of awareness
and fundraising lives on. That's why I signed up to raise money for
Prostate Cancer UK. I want to ensure that everyone can keep their dads,
partners, brothers, sons, grandads, uncles and friends around as long as
possible."
Ashley Grote, 40, from Norwich
- Charity: Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Ashley's daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged three
years old, and since then the family has been supported by Great Ormond
Street Hospital (GOSH) throughout her treatment. Having been diagnosed at
an early age, Emily, now 12, has grown up in the hospital. Ashley, the
Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral, has run seven London Marathons and is
hoping to bring his fundraising total for Great Ormond Street Hospital
Children's Charity, the 2023 TCS London Marathon Charity of the Year, to
more than £150,000.
Ashley said: "Emily is remarkable really - always determined and energetic.
She's lost her sight completely now but hasn't let it stop her doing
things. She has tremendous confidence... she absolutely loves singing,
especially since losing her sight. She has a beautiful voice and is almost
in her own little world when she sings.
"Without a doubt running for Emily and GOSH has been my incentive, my
driving force. I think about her on Marathon Day a lot. I find the whole
event so moving, so many people running for causes that mean such a lot to
them and all those people there to support them. It's an event of such
goodwill, where the best of the human spirit is on display.
"Running the London Marathon for GOSH has been a life-changing experience
for me, so life-affirming. It's the one day of the year where I feel I can
do something for the hospital, where I can think about Emily and what all
GOSH has done for us means. It feels like something positive I can do in an
otherwise challenging situation."
Emma Bishop, 38, from London
- Charity: The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Mum-of-two Emma was diagnosed with incurable Stage Four EGFR mutant
non-small lung cancer in April 2022. At the time of her diagnosis, the
cancer had spread to both her lungs, lymph nodes, spine, ribs, pelvis and
liver. Under the care of doctors at The Royal Marsden, Emma has been
treated with a targeted therapy, shrinking the cancer and stopping it from
spreading further.
There is no miracle cure, but the medication Emma is currently on has given
her hope for the future - a future that now includes taking part in the TCS
London Marathon.
Emma said: "I must give back to The Royal Marsden and say thank you to all
the hardworking, kind people who are invaluable and a complete constant,
holding our hands and making us smile in the most frightening of times. I
owe so much to them all.
"I also want to show that as hard as it is to come to terms with the fact
that I have a life-threatening, currently incurable disease, I am doing my
best to live a normal life for my husband and children, as well as support
the discovery of new treatments that might extend my time with them. It may
be that in April 2023 even with cancer, by training for the TCS London
Marathon, I could be in the best shape of my life."
Emma is looking forward to joining hundreds of others raising money for The
Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in April, under the strict guidance of her
medical team. She has so far raised more than £48,000 for the charity.
Sam Perkins, 40, from Nottingham
- Charity: Stand Against Mind (SAM)
Sam was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) three years ago - aged
37. A previously fit and healthy triathlete, Sam continued to live as
active a life as possible after his diagnosis, with support from his family
and friends.
He has set up the charity SAM - Stand Against MND - to raise awareness and
funds for research into MND, as well as funding palliative care for others
in his area. He will be taking part in the TCS London Marathon as one of 10
assisted wheelchair participants who, unable to self-propel, are each
allowed up to four support runners, with only two at a time supporting on
course. One of Sam's support runners will be four-time Ironman Triathlon
World Champion Chrissie Wellington.
Sam said: "I'll be honest, as a triathlete, I was never a fast runner, and
after a strong swim and bike my memories of Ironman marathons are just
being overtaken for 26.2 miles. But the London Marathon has always been the
one standalone marathon I said I'd train for if I ever got a place.
"I never believed that would happen and, of course, I can't do it in the
conventional way. But I feel honoured to have this opportunity. I'm so
grateful to the organisers, and I'm looking forward to soaking up every
last drop of the fabulous atmosphere this event provides. Plus, I'm
confident however slowly we complete it, it'll still be my fastest marathon
ever."
Dana Abdulkarim, 37, from Sheffield
- Charity: Cardiomyopathy UK
Dana's mum was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) more than 25
years ago. At the time she referred to her diagnosis as a 'life sentence'
as she was forced to live a slower life - with only six per cent of a
normal heartbeat.
Dana said: "When I was 11 my mum was diagnosed with DCM - it changed
everything. At the time, she had five children between six and 13 years
old. She visited the doctor after feeling very tired and breathless for a
few days. At the hospital, she was told she could no longer drive, work or
manage her life without pills, tests, hospital stays and a total change to
how she lived."
Dana's mother died 10 years ago, and Dana now hopes to 'cross the Finish
Line with her', running not only in her mum's memory but also for her
sister and brother, who have both been diagnosed with genetic cardiac
conditions. She will raise money to help fund the development of treatment
and better understanding of heart disease so that no one will describe
their DCM diagnosis as a life sentence ever again.
A practising Muslim, Dana has been training for the London Marathon during
Ramadan and will celebrate Eid on Marathon Weekend. She said: "I will be
training during Ramadan, another layer of challenge, but with the TCS
London Marathon potentially falling on Eid itself, Sunday 23 April is fast
becoming a very important day for me."
Steven Waterston, 50, from Edinburgh
- Charity: Guide Dogs
After suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2003, Steven, a British Army chef at
the time, took up marathon running in order to prove to the Army that he
was 'fit and able'. Unfortunately, five years later, another haemorrhage
would require six days of major brain surgery, which left Steven
significantly visually impaired and with reduced cognitive function.
The veteran was inspired to run his first London Marathon while still
recovering from that operation and in April will be running the event for
the ninth time. He said: "The atmosphere is unlike any other I've
experienced. The energy at the Start Line is vibrant with the nervousness
on the route into the Start Areas palpable. Local support on the way round
almost makes it as if it's carnival time, and with a wall of noise from the
supporters and charities, it's mind-blowing.
"I've run all over the world, including Africa, Europe and America, and
although they are all special for their individuality, London is by far the
most special. Best supported, best organised and overall the best
experience. Something magical pulls me back every year which I can't really
explain, but my wife and I just love the city, the atmosphere and dare I
say it - a good old 26.2 mile 'London knees up' around a beautiful city."
This year Steven will run the TCS London Marathon in aid of the charity
Guide Dogs, so those with sight loss can live full and happy lives.
Liam Gilmore, 45, from Wiltshire
- Charity: Plan International UK and Winston's Wish
Father-of-two Liam will take part in his first TCS London Marathon in
memory of his wife, Emily, who died of breast cancer in July 2022. Emily
was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020, two days before finding
out she was pregnant with the couple's second child.
Liam met Emily in 2011 while on humanitarian work in Liberia, West Africa.
After moving to London together in 2012, they welcomed two daughters -
Freya, born in 2018, and Margot, born in 2021. It was during her pregnancy
with Margot that Emily received treatment for breast cancer. Sadly, the
cancer returned in May 2022 and Emily passed away two months later in July
of the same year.
Liam, who works for Plan International UK and was supported throughout this
difficult time by his employers, will be fundraising for both Plan and
Winston's Wish, which supports children and young people after the death of
someone important to them.
Liam said: "I'm running the TCS London Marathon to keep a promise. Emily
ran the London Marathon in 2015 and I'd hoped to run it while she was with
us. The training, while hard, gives me a clear focus and helps me connect
with Emily's energy and positivity, which she maintained throughout her
life.
"Raising funds for Winston's Wish and Plan International is a big
motivation. Money raised for Winston's Wish will enable many more children
to get the specialist support they need in times of bereavement and come to
terms with the loss of a loved one, like Emily.
"Fundraising for Plan is a way to say thanks for its steadfast support and
to give back to an incredible organisation that is advancing children's
rights and equality for girls here in the UK and globally. Being a parent
to two young daughters reminds me daily just how important this work is."
Liam will be supported on Marathon Day by his two daughters, aged one and
four, and his family members making the journey over to cheer him on from
his native Ireland.
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