London Marathon runners raise £150,000


84 London Marathon runners from across the UK, USA, Singapore and beyond took to the streets of the capital in support of Leonard Cheshire on Sunday 28 April, raising £150,000 for the leading disability charity.

My favourite bit about running the marathon was having Leonard Cheshire cheer us on.

Debbie Moore, London Marathon runner

This was part of a record-breaking fundraising effort by Marathon runners this year, totalling £1bn for various causes. 

Taryn Walker was Leonard Cheshire’s fastest runner, covering the distance in 03:19:42. 

Runners Ross Hennessey and Deborah Apostolides, meanwhile, led the fundraising field, with Ross raising over £6,000 and Deborah £5,864. 

Deborah said:

‘Seeing my family and people from Leonard Cheshire out there cheering me on made all of the difference. It really helped get me through.’

Kenneth Rochford, who came from the USA to run for Leonard Cheshire alongside his sister, vet Lindsay Henry, said:

‘It was a challenge of course and but it is a great charity and a great cause.’

The money raised from the 26.2 mile challenge for Leonard Cheshire will support thousands of disabled people, in the UK and around the world, with physical and learning disabilities, to live their lives as independently as they choose. 

Debbie Moore, a carer who was running in memory of her friend and Leonard Cheshire care home resident Terry Clark, said:

‘My favourite bit about running the marathon was having Leonard Cheshire cheer us on.

‘It is a cause that it close to my heart and it means a lot to me to raise awareness of the work they do and for us runners to be raising thousands of pounds for them.’

To sign up for a place to run with Leonard Cheshire on 26 April 2020, please visit: www.leonardcheshire.org/londonmarathon.

Join Leonard Cheshire’s team for just £100,  with a pledge to raise £1,800 in sponsorship for us — one of the lowest charity targets around.


Media enquiries

For more information contact Samuel Buckley on samuel.buckley@leonardcheshire.org or call 020 3242 0204.

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