Dear friends and family,

Well, we did it! Thank you SO much for your generous support and encouragement for our marathon run last week.

The day itself was an amazing experience for us both. Anoosheh’s past marathon exploits meant we were invited into the VIP tent at the start - and saw the elite runners set off from only a few feet away.

Then we ran alongside many of the fantastic costumed runners, taking our time to drink in the atmosphere, take pictures and videos of all the sights, bands and huge numbers of supports.

We were carried along by all the fun, emotion, atmosphere and being alongside thousands of others all with their own causes and stories. The heat was bearable, if not ideal. Anoosheh was a complete hero in carrying on determinedly, despite having had a cold in the week before - embodying perfectly his two golden rules: "No 1: Always remember that perseverance pays off, and No 2: Never forget rule number 1!”. Chatting to fellow runners, and seeing family, friends and supporters dotted along the route would always give us a boost.

We finished more than a few steps behind those elite runners - in 6 hrs 21 mins. But our only goal was to be together from start to finish - which we managed.

Everything else was about enjoying the moment, and remembering our promise from the time we first met - when Anoosheh was in Evin prison not knowing if he would ever come out. While neither of us will ever forget the bleakness of that time, nor the others who are still affected, we can now link those thoughts with a much more uplifting memory which we will also never forget.

We have raised over £15,000 for Hostage International, for which we, and they, are hugely grateful. Hostage International wrote this article, and asked us to pass on the following:

Your generosity will go a long way in helping Hostage International deliver the expert guidance, information and support for families and former hostages throughout their ordeal – and beyond. If you would like to keep updated on how your support is helping, please sign up to our newsletter here.

Thank you again for your support!

Simon and Anoosheh

A Promise Fulfilled - From Evin Prison to the London Marathon

Anoosheh and Simon first met in person in Tehran during November 2021, during a very brief reprieve that Anoosheh had been given from his arbitrary incarceration in Iran's notorious Evin prison. Anoosheh told Simon that he had been keeping himself fit and motivated inside Evin by running around a small courtyard, and had set himself the goal of completing the London Marathon if and when he ever made it home. Simon promised him there and then that he would run it alongside Anoosheh.

Anoosheh was eventually released in March 2022 after extensive negotiations, in which Simon was heavily involved. Anoosheh returned just in time for him to do the London Marathon that year in his Evin prison uniform - fulfilling the pledge he had made to himself. He has run it every year since, each time raising money for Hostage International and another charity, which supported him and his family during his long incarceration.

Meanwhile Simon returned home from his posting in the British Embassy, Tehran, in July 2024. The first thing he did on being reunited with Anoosheh in London was to remind him of the promise. This year’s marathon is the first opportunity for them to participate together. The organisers of the London Marathon have very kindly turned this special commitment, forged in the darkest days of Anoosheh’s period of arbitrary detention in Iran, into reality.

The two of them remain closely involved with, and supportive of, Hostage International, which does such valuable and extensive behind-the-scenes work in supporting families of hostages and hostages themselves after they return home from unfair detention anywhere in the world. Anoosheh and Simon are delighted to have the opportunity to raise money for them while running the Marathon together, and are hugely grateful to you for your support.