A group of 34 runners ran the 2025 London Marathon to raise £163,000 for The National Brain Appeal. The funds will support vital projects at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the UCL Institute of Neurology in Queen Square, Bloomsbury.
Ronan Clancy, whose mother was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s, was the charity’s fastest runner and top fundraiser. He completed the course in three hours and raised just under £27,000.
Ronan said: “It was amazing. Definitely my best marathon experience. It was bit too warm and sunny to push myself for a personal best but I am still absolutely delighted.”
Siblings Ben and Jessica Illingworth were running with close friend Ruth Pollitt, in memory of Ben and Jessica’s sister Gemma who, in 2021 and aged just 28, was the youngest person in the UK to be diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a very rare form of dementia. Gemma sadly died late last year. They raised more than £22,000 for Rare Dementia Support, a service that The National Brain Appeal funds and who continue to provide support to the Illingworth family.
Ben said: “Whilst the reason we were running is as tragic as it can be, we would like this cause to be positive and do Gemma proud.”
The trio completed the marathon in just under five hours.
Elle Mortimer, who was told 17 months ago she had between five and eight months to live, defied the odds and made it to the finish line in seven hours.
Elle said: “I feel fantastic, an active and healthy lifestyle helps, and just keeping positive. When I run, it’s like my therapy.” Reflecting on marathon day, she said: “I found the experience overwhelmingly magical. What a day.”
Two staff from Queen Square were among the charity’s runners. Consultant neurologist and scientist, Philip Weston, achieved a running time of four hours 11 minutes. Trainee neurosurgeon, Dr Joachim Starup-Hansen, who received funding from The National Brain Appeal’s Innovation Fund to increase access to clinical trials for people with brain tumours by using AI, completed the race in just three hours and 22 minutes.
Dr Philip Weston said: “Running the London Marathon for The National Brain Appeal was a fantastic experience, and the support we received throughout the course was amazing. I’m very proud to have raised money for such a great charity, particularly given my close links to rare dementia research and care, which the charity is such generous supporter of.”
Dr Joachim Starup-Hansen said: “It was the most incredible experience. I started the day coincidentally meeting a fellow National Brain Appeal marathon runner that had made an excellent recovery since his tumour surgery last year. Chatting to him reminded me of why I was supporting the charity – because of the fantastic patients they champion! The final 10 kilometres became a real challenge in the heat, but the crowds provided just enough energy to get me across the line. I’m proud to have run a significant personal best.”
Claire Wood Hill, chief executive of The National Brain Appeal said: “All of our runners are truly inspirational. It was a hot and sunny day, which was great for the spectators, but definitely made it harder for the runners. What they have achieved individually and collectively is just incredible and we are very grateful. The £163,000 they have raised will make a real difference to the lives of people with neurological conditions.”
Image caption: Ronan Clancy completed the London Marathon in 3 hours for The National Brain Appeal.
Photo credit Marie Mangan
