We wish the best of luck to our #TeamCHECT London Marathon runners who will be pounding the streets of London on Sunday 23 April 2023!
If you’re heading to London for the day, we’d love for you to join us to help cheer on our fantastic runners as they make their way around this iconic London course and over the finish line. We will have a cheer point at mile 20.5 on the south side of West India Dock Road (nearest station Westferry DLR). For the finish line we will be at St James’s Café in St James’s Park to welcome our runners home and meet up with their families. Look out for our team, and let us know you’re coming – we’d love to say hello and welcome you to the excitement!
Meet our amazing 2023 marathon runners here:
Richard Ashton (CHECT’s CEO)
I’m really looking forward to running the London Marathon on behalf of the charities’ amazing families, volunteers, staff and medical teams and in the process to raise awareness of retinoblastoma and to generate some much needed funds for CHECT. Being part of the team is a huge honour and getting a place in the ballot was too good an opportunity to miss! I’m constantly inspired by the courage and spirit shown by all those affected by retinoblastoma, and by the compassion and care delivered by the medical teams and those here at the charity. This will be my third London Marathon and I’m looking forward to seeing the cheer squad along the way and meeting everyone at end.
Kirsty Bell
I am Kirsty, I am supporting CHECT as they continue to be a support for my cousin who’s baby was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at 13 weeks. He is now coming up to three-years-old, and is still receiving treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He is an absolute trooper who just takes things in his stride, so if he can do that, I can do 26.2 miles to show my support. My cousin Lauren ran the marathon last year for CHECT and she is also a huge inspiration in my life. I won’t be breaking any records, but I will cross that finish line, for Cobie Jake and all the other children with retinoblastoma.
Victoria Hatcher
I won’t lie… I started training just after Christmas for a marathon 12 weeks away… so it’s going to be a struggle given I had to walk some of that first 4km plod! BUT this is a GREAT cause, I cannot imagine what it feels like to have a child diagnosed with cancer – and personally, the focus of a goal has done wonders for my mental health already.
Gemma Hughes
I work as a Dispensing Optician and I get to see first-hand the impact that retinoblastoma can have on people’s lives. I feel it is important to support such a valuable UK charity and raise the awareness of retinoblastoma. I hope to raise as much as I can so that CHECT can continue the fantastic work they do.
Stephen Morrin
This year, I wanted to run the London Marathon on behalf of a small charity which does amazing work with no Government support. Getting to know the team at CHECT, and learning more about the work they do to help families impacted by retinoblastoma, has been a real pleasure and I feel privileged to be part of the fundraising team.
I live in Cornwall and work as a Director of a Community Interest Company, providing infrastructure and support for entrepreneurship in the South West. I am a relatively novice runner with just a year or so of ‘serious’ running under my belt, but I have a fairly athletic background across rugby, surfing and weightlifting. My home town is London, so I can’t wait to hit some familiar streets whilst raising awareness for a great cause.
Simon Neal
I’m Simon and on the 23rd of April I’m going to be taking on the London Marathon. This is not my first marathon at all but it is still going to be a challenge as always. My training has gone to plan and we are very close to race day.
I have been trying to raise money for CHECT, not because I have had any personal experience with them, but to help them with all the extremely good work they do and hopefully this will help them carry on in the future.
I wish everyone who is running the best of luck and if I can give one bit of advice – just enjoy the day.
Ben Revill
Ben works for a tech firm in London and his hobbies include singing and running (even helping coach the children at his local running club in Wimbledon too).
After Ben and Caroline’s son Will was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in 2009, during which time CHECT supported them, Ben became a trustee of CHECT and has since fundraised doing several runs including London Marathon three times and an auction. Will also takes after Dad with the singing, enjoys doing the CHECT teenage meet ups and is revising hard for A levels this summer!
Hayley Richley
I’m very excited to take on the (actual) London Marathon this year for Team CHECT! After taking on the virtual challenge in 2021 I was thrilled to gain a place for London in April.
My goddaughter, Amber, was diagnosed with this rare childhood eye cancer, retinoblastoma, five years ago. CHECT have supported Amber and her family from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. Amber is now enjoying being a six year old but continues to benefit from the support of the wonderful CHECT team.
My fundraising is in honour of our ‘Amazing Amber’ and all the other brave children affected by retinoblastoma.
I’m (probably) just off for a run!
Matt Windsor
Hi, I’m Matt and I had retinoblastoma, I was one of very few to be treated in the 1980s as a two-year-old at Westbourne eye hospital. I ran the marathon for CHECT back in 2010 when living in London and was on the standby list for 2020 getting a call up only 6 weeks before, and then postponed due to covid! I ran the virtual marathon in 2021 – one of the hardest challenges ever and nothing like the buzz of London! I will be supported this year by my wife, Becci, and my 3 children – James, Bella and Emi – who have all undergone retinoblastoma monitoring with the support of CHECT!
All of us at CHECT wish our London Marathon runners a huge good luck – we can’t wait to cheer you on! Interested in running a race for CHECT? Check out our fundraising page or get in touch at fundraising@chect.org.uk.