Every year, the London Marathon sees runners from right across the globe fill the streets of our capital for the challenging event, with crowds of supporters cheering them on.
And the 2025 run with see some incredible supporters taking on the 26.2 miles in aid of us, for particularly special reasons close to their hearts.
Here, you can hear from each of them:
Amy Hillier
“I’m running the London Marathon in recognition of the support the Fire Fighters Charity offer to our on-call firefighters and their families. My motivation for running is the bravery of our local crew, who themselves witnessed the tragic loss of the life of WM Mark Hillier as he responded to a call from his local community last year.
“I want to raise awareness of the support that can be offered in dealing with the trauma and grief experienced by on-call crews, who are committed to responding to their local communities.
“I am fundraising to give back a little of what Mark’s wife, children and the wider family #teamhillier can benefit from in the future.”
Kat Jones
“Fire Fighters Charity was there for me last year when I was struggling mentally with the decline of two of my children’s health, and this is my chance to give back.
“My son Tyler loved running around, would take part in school sports days and give it 2000% even if he fell, he would get back up and crack on. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t run, and so I’ve told myself that I need to run, I need to run because Tyler can’t… and I need to make him proud.”
Hannah Binns
“On December 7, 2023, I was involved in a traumatic car crash on the M6… I can never repay the firefighters for what they did for me that evening, but running in honour of Fire Fighters Charity is a small way I can give something back.
“I always think, firefighters help us in our hour of need, but who’s helping them? And that’s what I see your charity’s role as being.”
Read Hannah’s full story here.
Chris O’Shea
“I am currently serving as a firefighter in West Midlands FRS and will be running the marathon in fire kit and BA to support the vital work the charity provides.
“This job can be unpredictable in many ways, and after a difficult year for my FRS losing members of the West Mids family, I’m running to show my support for friends, colleagues and a charity that is indispensable to our community.
“I hope to have a long and healthy career in the fire service, with the assurance knowing the charity will always be there to support me and my family.”
Sam Hayward
“I am full-time in the London Fire Brigade, currently a leading firefighter.
“I am running for the charity for a few reasons, from a young age I saw the amazing work the charity does. My dad was a firefighter and when he injured his ankle they really looked after him. I also had a car crash a few years back and the charity helped me get back on my feet.
“They also helped my wife with some problems she had and I’ve always wanted to do everything in my power to ensure they are there for others when they are in need, be it physical or mental help.”
Cristabelle Owens
“I am not in the fire service myself but I am running the London Marathon 2025 for my beautiful mum who sadly lost her life in May 2021. She was involved in our caravan fire and the Clacton firefighters came so quickly and did everything they could to try and save her life.
“I want to give back and show my appreciation to them and this charity. My mum would be so proud of what I’m doing and the Fire Fighters Charity will always hold a place in my heart because of the efforts that firefighters went to that day.”
Julie Skeffington
“I was a wholesome firefighter in East Sussex for 17 years until I retired in 2021.
“The charity provides invaluable mental and physical support to members of the fire community and, in particular, to those affected by their experiences on the front line.
“As a firefighter in 2006, I attended a major incident at a fireworks factory where, following a large explosion, two of my colleagues tragically died and many more, including myself, were injured.
“The charity provided support both mentally and physically to help both those affected and their families come to terms with and recover from the traumatic experience we were exposed to and, in my case, helped me return to work and to continue in my career for a further 15 years, until my retirement.”
Gerry Williscroft
“I am employed by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service but am currently seconded to Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as a Station Manager.
“I am running for the Fire Fighters Charity simply because it’s a charity that is so close to my heart, I have completed a number of events previously for the charity, most recently I completed Leeds Marathon in May 2024 raising over £1,200.
“I was part of the Service’s charity committee until I left in August (for my secondment) responsible for facilitating textile recycling across Nottinghamshire.”
Scott Gibson
“I am serving as an Area Commander in Scottish Fire and Rescue responsible for Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
“The London Marathon was always on the bucket list and what better way to do it than for a charity that helps those who help others in there time of need and their families.
“I have seen first hand the work of the charity and how they have been there in the most awful and hard times for friends and colleagues, and without the continued support of those of us associated with the service, this would not be possible so I’m keen to do my bit.”
Janine Kinnear
“I am so pleased to be able to run the London Marathon in 2025 to raise vital funds for the Fire Fighters Charity. The work they do to support existing and retired firefighters and their families is just amazing.
“I am an advocate for mental health and am already a mental health first aider in the fire service. I had the opportunity through the charity Hope Programme to undertake a course on understanding and dealing with my own mental health.
“I have also seen first-hand from a firefighter on my watch how beneficial Jubilee House is. He unfortunately had to take time off work due to a knee injury and was able to attend for a week’s rehab and respite and couldn’t praise the team enough.”
Amy Hopkins
“I’m a Crew Commander with West Midlands Fire Service.
“I’m running for the Fire Fighters Charity as have seen first-hand the help and support they provide for firefighters and their families, both physically and mentally. It’s a relief to know they’re there for us if we might need them, so it’s amazing to be able to give a little back!”
Gareth Price
“I am a Watch Commander with Scottish FRS and have been serving for 23 years now.
“I only began running in 2022 after a leg break which kept me indoors for a considerable time, so I decided to start running when I was healed up.
“Thankfully I didn’t need the charity for assistance in rehab but know they were on call if required. In May 2023, I competed my first marathon in Edinburgh and since then fell into it in a big way and have completed a further two marathons and a half marathon as well as running several Munro’s (Scottish Mountains!) as a further challenge.
“Running the London Marathon is one that is a huge privilege to take part in and I am so glad to be running it for the charity.”
Scott Mcauley
“I’m a firefighter with Scottish FRS and my friend used the charity to have rehab on his ankle that he has surgery on… the charity is a great support for firefighters and their families.”
Emma Noyce
“I personally am not in the fire service, I’m actually a veterinary surgeon, but my grandparents on both sides of the family and my dad were part of the fire service.
“The reason I am running on behalf of the charity is to help give back after the help they have given my family. They have provided financial support to my grandparents, provided rehabilitation services to my sister whilst recovering from a spinal injury. And most importantly they have provided exceptional mental health support to my dad to help him recover from his battle with PTSD.”
Ben Vaughan
“I’m not in the fire service as of yet, still currently a student completing my A-levels, however, I aspire to apply in the future following my dad’s footsteps.
“I’m running for the charity because they’ve done a lot for my family. A couple of years ago my dad had an accident that almost took his life. After countless surgeries and weeks in hospital, the charity was there to aid my dad in his rehabilitation, which ultimately helped him secure his career back in the South Wales FRS.
“They also took my two younger brothers in to Harcombe House and looked after them during his rehabilitation. I thought it was my turn to repay the charity after my dad ran the New York marathon in 2009 for the charity.”
Corey Martin
“I’m running the London Marathon on behalf of Fire Fighters Charity as they do an amazing job in keeping our country’s fire services, and their families, strong – both physical and mentally.
“I have seen this on a firsthand basis, where they supported my Dad who is also a firefighter, after he injured his hip. And they also supported myself with some mental health struggles this year, something which gave me a real desire to give back to the charity as this really helped me and then my family”
Meanwhile, we have some amazing runners who have chosen to support us with their own place in the marathon this year. If you’re running in aid of us, let us know by emailing [email protected].
