I am honoured to be running the London Marathon 2026 in honour of my grandma, Doreen Haley, and in support of the British Heart Foundation – a cause that is deeply personal to me. The BHF has provided incredible support to families like mine, and now I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to give something back.

My grandma

Losing our grandma to heart disease in 2024 was a devastating moment for me & my family. She was the heart and strength of our family, the one who brought everyone together and showed us what true strength looked like. Her kindness and resilience has inspired me to raise funds in her name in the hopes of helping others and their families living & struggling with heart disease.

The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly everyday hundreds of people lose their lives. It's only thanks to support from people like us that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures.

Running the London Marathon is my way of honouring her memory and helping others who are facing the same battles. I know her strength will keep me going on every mile of this journey.

My running journey

Running has always been a part of my life, but I unfortunately lost touch with the sport for many years. After we lost my grandma in 2024, I found that picking up running again helped me so much both physically and mentally.

It has been a key part of strengthening my mental resilience for me in recent years, and not only just a form of exercise, but a controlled way of me reclaiming my body, healing my mind and rebuilding the strength & confidence I once lost.

Taking on the London Marathon is both a challenge and a privilege - it is not only about crossing the finish line but a way of proving to myself that I can push beyond my limits all whilst making a difference to others.

My journey back to running hasn't been easy, and it has reminded me how resilient I can be. The early mornings, the tired legs, and keeping going when my body & mind are telling me to stop. With now a 10km and soon a half marathon under my belt, training has been one of the most healing things I've done and has given me such a sense of purpose - rediscovering a part of myself that I thought I'd lost.

More than anything, I hope that this journey helps inspire others - whether to take on their own challenge, support a cause close to their heart, or simply believe that you can get through the hardest times in your life, turning pain into something positive and coming back stronger.

Why your support means so much

Every donation, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to a future where fewer families have to face the pain of losing someone they love to heart disease. But even more than that, every message, share, motivation and encouragement you could give me would mean the world.

Whilst I'm absolutely determined to make a difference, I'd be so grateful for your support on this journey, in any way that you can. £24 could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target.

Every contribution you can give brings us closer to beating heartbreak forever <3

Thank you for being a part of this journey - I couldn't do it with you.

Bethany x