My Story

Dad was unfortunately diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia this year. He turned 90 last October and he’s still staying positive and fighting strong despite his condition. 

Since getting a ballot place in next year’s marathon, I decided to raise some money and awareness for something that’s sadly now very personal to me and my family. This is my way of showing support for not only Dad but for other families in the same position and the many people who are battling leukaemia. 

With a great deal of help and dedication from close friends and family, we've started a charity football team called John Martin XI in support of Dad and we've got big plans to go on raising funds through football matches and local community events. Follow @johnmartinxi on Instagram for more information and to stay up to date with our progress 🧡

About us

The London Marathon has become an annual, inspiring and colourful fixture in the world’s sporting calendar since the inaugural race on 29 March 1981: a celebration of fun, fundraising and fancy dress.

Over the years more than a million people have completed the 26.2-mile course – which runs from Blackheath to The Mall, with a spectacular finish in front of Buckingham Palace, showcasing the very best that the capital city has to offer.

What’s more, these participants have raised over a billion pounds for charity and there have been countless amazing tales of human achievement throughout the event’s history – living up to its aim of helping participants ‘to have fun, and provide some happiness and sense of achievement in a troubled world’.