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First-timers and London Marathon veterans are among those preparing to tackle the world’s most famous course in aid of local hospitals.

Clair Dade, Fundraising Co-ordinator for Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said:

Together, these inspiring runners are hoping to raise over £18,000 for wards and departments across Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals, and we can’t thank them, and everyone supporting them, enough. Monies raised will make a real difference for our patients and the departments where they receive their care.

Joe Elliott from Benfleet

This year is very special for Joe, who will be running his 20th consecutive London Marathon. Having supported many charities over the years, he has chosen to dedicate this milestone run to cancer services - a cause deeply personal to his family. 

Joe has lost loved ones to cancer, including his auntie who was one of his biggest running supporters, and several friends and family members have faced diagnoses in recent years. He said: “Running for a cause so close to our hearts means everything.”

This year he is hoping to raise £10,000 which, if achieved, will see him hit an overall London Marathon fundraising total of £100,000 for various good causes.

He also has two Guinness World Records, for running the fastest time wearing a three-piece suit and fastest time dressed as a boxer.

Joe’s commitment to running is remarkable, training every single day at 5am - a routine he’s maintained for over a decade - fitting in 10 miles before work. Supported wholeheartedly by his wife, he logged more than 5,000 miles last year. Finishing races with his children and his wife by his side remains one of his proudest memories.

Joe has completed more than 50 marathons, including New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, Athens, Italy, and Paris but says London is the best.

He said:

The support you get from the London crowds is magnificent, it gives me goosebumps just talking about it; it is like nothing I have ever experienced. The support is simply unrivalled compared with anywhere else in the world. 

At no point ever do you feel on your own - the crowds are always nine or ten people deep. It’s just a fantastic feeling and atmosphere when you are running past iconic landmarks like Big Ben and up The Mall to the finish line.

Being a seasoned marathon runner, Joe also had a few tips for those taking it on for the first time.

“The first thing I would say is, enjoy it. The first time is the best experience and is also the only time you won’t have another time to beat. Enjoy the course, the crowd and just being a part of it.

“Secondly, run your own race. It’s so easy to start off quickly, but you won’t enjoy the second half if you have run too fast in the first. Your pace will go up a bit but know your own pace from all your training.

“And finally, even if you don’t feel like having water or Lucozade at the time, take it when it is offered as it will really help you along the way.”

Support Joe here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/joe-elliotts20thlondonmarathon

 

Jake Slade from Southend, Business Admin Support for Hospital@Home at Southend Hospital

Jake has worked at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for 18 years and is running his very first marathon for the  Hospital@Home and Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy service, which provides care to patients in the comfort of their own home or in a local clinic.

Jake’s been inspired by the incredible care he sees his colleagues deliver every day. He began running three years ago to improve his health, losing nearly four stone along the way, and now feels proud to take on this challenge in support of a team that makes such a difference to patients.

Support Jake Slade here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jake-slade-1

 

Dr Oliver Broderick‑Basar from Wickford, Emergency Department doctor at Basildon Hospital

Oliver will be running the London Marathon in memory of his grandad, raising funds for the Basildon Renal and Dialysis unit where his family received care for many years. He first took up running during lockdown, transforming his fitness and developing a real passion for the sport. 

Now a doctor within the Trust, Oliver said:

Running for the team who supported my grandad with such kindness makes this challenge incredibly special. It feels like my way of giving back.

Despite balancing training with busy Emergency Department shifts, he’s determined and looking forward to the moment he crosses the finish line.

Support Oliver here: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/oliver-broderick-basar?utm_source=enthuse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website&utm_content=LMpageURL

 

Miles Harmsworth from London

Miles is taking on his first marathon and has chosen to support the Children’s Burns Club at Broomfield Hospital as his cause.

He was inspired by his mum’s decades‑long nursing career and his own experience volunteering at regular burns camp weekends. 

Miles said: “The Burns Club offers something equally vital to the hospital's medical care, a community where these children can simply be themselves, make friends who truly understand, and just be kids again. That is what I am running for.”

Support Miles Harmsworth here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/miles-harmsworth

 

Peter Newman from Leigh-on-Sea

This will be Peter’s eighth marathon, and his second time taking on the London Marathon. This year, Peter is running in support of the Butterfly Suite at Southend Hospital in memory of his baby daughter, Tilly. 

Supporting the unit that cared for his family means a great deal to him, and he hopes his efforts will help other families going through the most difficult moments.

Support Peter Newman here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/peter-newman-12

 

Maggie Gallagher from Leigh-on-Sea

Maggie will be running in support of Southend’s Chemotherapy unit, where her mum, Jules, has received treatment for stage 4 cancer since 2013. Maggie’s confident in her training having

 completed two half marathons

 already this year. Running to honour her mum’s strength and the care she continues to receive makes this challenge especially meaningful for Maggie.

Support Maggie Gallagher here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/maggie-gallagher-1