Our Virgin London Marathon team 2012

Meet the people running for us and raising vital funds.

Our team from the North…

Angela Johnson
My father is a keen lifelong runner who is currently receiving treatment for a brain tumour. He is a veteran of several London Marathons with a personal best of around 3 hours 30 minutes so I thought it would be a fitting challenge to follow in his footsteps. I want to raise awareness of the condition and do all I can to help fund research to improve treatment.
Help Angela raise funds for us

Mark Wright
I recently had an operation to remove my brain tumour and although there’s still some left, I am well enough to take part in the Virgin London Marathon in aid of Brain Tumour UK. I was treated well in hospital and appreciate the importance of research and support. Brain Tumour UK is a really good cause and I am thrilled to be running for the charity in 2012.
Help Mark raise funds for us

Rachel Precious
My Mum was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour in May 2000. She received chemo and radiotherapy, and remained positive all the time. She fought for 10 years, but in March 2010 sadly lost her battle. I am proud to be running my second marathon in April for Brain Tumour UK. I would appreciate all the help I can get with my fundraising!
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Simon Grundy
Hello, I am attempting to run the London Marathon in bare feet for Brain Tumour UK in honour of my Dad, Roy, who has been diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumour. He has always loved watching me run and play sports whilst growing up and it is his goal to come along and watch the marathon in April. It is great to be raising awareness for Brain Tumour UK to help them to help others in beating this disease.
Help Simon raise funds for us

Tim Astill
I’m running the Virgin London Marathon for Brain Tumour UK as my wife has suffered from a brain tumour for the past seven years. The Brain Tumour UK research centre is in Wolverhampton where I live and I’ve always wanted to run a marathon and there is no better fundraising marathon in the world than London. Brain Tumour UK needs money for research and my small effort will hopefully raise much needed cash and awareness of the charity.
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Martin Skehan
Martin, a director at the Telford Specsavers store, is leading a fundraising initiative in memory of his wife, Becky, who died of a brain tumour in March 2010. He says ‘It helps us feel better that in some way we are able to support others in their fight against the illness. When Becky was ill, it always helped us to know that we were not alone. Becky was a very giving person and she would want us to take any opportunity to help fight this illness that is so challenging to families.’ Specsavers staff have already raised over £10,000 for Brain Tumour UK’s research facility in the Midlands.
Help Martin raise funds for us

... and from the South

George Phillips
At the end of June 2011, my father John died of a brain tumour after a 5½ year fight. During these years he received support, medical expertise and treatment that would not have been possible without funds outside the NHS. Without this I believe that we would not have had the privilege of those final precious years. I want every person that gets the condition to have access to all the same treatment and support my Dad did. So I’m running the Virgin London Marathon for this great charity!!
Help George raise funds for us

Adrian Maidment
I last ran the London Marathon in 1991. I used to run many half marathons and fun runs but when my son was born found I it harder to find the time to train. Last year I decided that I would like to do London one more time so sent in my entry... and was accepted. At this time I was unsure which charity I was going to raise money for but come the end of the year there was no question, it had to be for Brain Tumour UK. In short I'm running the London Marathon in memory of my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law, who both died last year. My Father-in-law had been my Mother-in-law’s main carer for 15 years as she suffered with lupus, osteoporosis, diabetes and Raynaud's Disease. My Father-in-law was diagnosed with a glioblastoma at the beginning of June 2011, and three days later my Mother-in-law had a heart attack and sadly died. In October 2011 the glioblastoma resulted in my Father-in-law’s death.
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Bonnie Adcock
Eight years ago, my brother, only 18 then, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. After aggressive courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment (and another gap year) he started university to study Engineering in 2005. During a routine check up in spring 2006, Rob was diagnosed with a second brain tumour. The news was devastating. However, the support and treatment he received was phenomenal. The treatment Rob received during both his first and second brain tumours would not have been possible without charities such as Brain Tumour UK; committed to fighting brain tumours. I am running the Virgin London Marathon for this very worthy charity to help raise awareness and money so Brain Tumour UK can continue to support, improve the quality of lives of brain tumour patients and identify better treatments through scientific research. In 2010, Rob successfully graduated with a first class honours in Engineering and now works for a successful geotechnical engineering company. Support my fundraising here!

Mark Griffin

I am running the London Marathon (for the 2nd time) to raise funds for three amazing charities, one of which is Brain Tumour UK. Kevin Harper, our dear friend, is, as we speak, recovering from a brain tumour and is fighting his way back to health with the love and support of his friends and family. Life is not, and has not been easy for Kev and his surrounding family and friends - so the least I can do is go for a little run around London to try in some way to help. If you would like to donate to Brain Tumour UK (and two other fantastic charities), then in advance please let me say a huge thank you and it is your support that will be my motivation on the way round. Please visit  my fundraising page where you can sponsor me online. Don't forget to tick the box to reclaim Gift Aid on your donation if you're a UK tax payer. Virgin Money Giving will pass this on in full to charity, making your donation go even further.

FYI - My running number is 27450. If you see me on the way round, a "C'mon Griff" will be much appreciated. Thanks again for all your help and support.

Amy Dunnett
I am running the Virgin London Marathon for Brain Tumour UK in memory of my dad, Peter Dunnett, who my family and I lost in 1998 to a brain tumour, aged only 48. Dad was a family man with a great sense of humour, incredibly well loved by everyone who knew him. On marathon day, I will be running for Dad, for my family and for all the kind, generous people that have donated money to Brain Tumour UK.
Read all of Amy's story / Help Amy raise funds for us

Kate Murray
I’m 56 years old and the Virgin London Marathon 2012 will be my first marathon run. I’m running it as a tribute to my husband, James. We met just after I celebrated my 40th birthday and within a couple of years we were married and had a son, Andrew. We were a very happy and close-knit family unit. James died in February last year aged just 55. He had a ballot place to run the London Marathon in 2011 and so I'm running this for him.
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Greg Bott
I have taken on the challenge of the 2012 Virgin London Marathon in memory of my father-in-law, Tony Crawford. Tony passed on just before Christmas 2010. Right to the end he faced his brain tumour with courage and dignity. His loss has left an enormous hole in the family. I am therefore running in aid of Brain Tumour UK to support all of those affected and to ensure the personalised support available online, on the phone, by email and through support groups provided by Brain Tumour UK can continue. It is also comforting to know that some of the money I raise will be used to identify better treatments for those affected.
Help Greg raise funds for us

Patrick Cosgrove
Four years ago I was watching the London Marathon on television and those runners were inspirational. This motivated me to start running, never thinking I would be able to run one! Unfortunately my Dad passed away from a brain tumour in 2010, and as I was running half marathons for charity, I wanted to do something for my Dad. I phoned Brain Tumour UK and spoke to Nicky who explained the work the charity does. I have continued through my running to raise money for this wonderful charity.
Help Patrick raise funds for us

Daryl Lucas
This will be my fourth London Marathon and my seventh overall. As it is Olympic Year I have set myself a challenge entitled ‘Going for Gold’ where I plan to run 50 races of varying distances during 2012 including the Marathon. I am also running the BUPA 10,000 and the London Kilomathon. At the end of March I will be one of 5,000 runners taking part in the National Lottery's Five-Mile Olympic Park race which finishes in the Olympic Stadium itself, so I will actually get the opportunity to run around the track crossing the finish line in advance of many illustrious names before the Games begin in August. I run for a local club, Istead and Ifield Harriers. I have chosen to run for Brain Tumour UK this year in memory of Lesley Hall, a friend and colleague at the Chartered Institute of Linguists who sadly died after a very short illness in July last year. Lesley was a very enthusiastic, kind and caring individual who was very brave and courageous as her illness was diagnosed.
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Laura Sinfield
I am running for Brain Tumour UK because my uncle suffered a brain tumour many years ago. He had it successfully removed when brain tumour operations were relatively new. Although he is no longer with us (and died from different causes) it would have been his 60th birthday this year. So I thought it was an ideal charity to run for in his memory, since it is something my family are very supportive of.
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Danny O'Hanlon
I first decided to run for Brain Tumour UK in March 2010 at the Silverstone Half Marathon. Back in July of 2009 I lost my girlfriend who was the one I loved with all my heart and soul to two brain tumours. Once I saw that Brain Tumour UK were involved at Silverstone I got a few sponsors together and raised as much money as I could. Since then I have gone on and run three marathons in Paris, Longford and Dublin which was then 2011. Not being one to back out of any opportunity to run, I have enlisted myself on the London marathon as well as a few half marathons and Relay GB. Once I have done this I plan to go back to Longford in Ireland to go and run an ultra marathon. All I need now is the support and many, many sponsors for doing this. And I plan to go on and go all over raising money forever for this great charity.
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Irena Tzekina
I lost my father to brain cancer when I was aged 8. The difficult time that my family faced in the years that followed have inspired me to do what I can to raise awareness and funds to help make sure that one day no-one has to go through what my family went through. In particular, last year I cycled 200 miles over four days, raising money for the cause. The people that I met – so strong, genuine and inspirational – made for a phenomenal experience, and I learned a lot about being humane, about being welcoming, and about being determined. As painful as it was, I focused on the goal and made it. As a result, I wanted to take the next step – the big challenge. I want to continue educating myself about getting my mind in the right state – because the cause matters. And I want to do it with 40,000-odd other people who are running because they care. Thank you, Brain Tumour UK, for the opportunity.
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Richard Dade
The reason that I am running the Virgin London Marathon (sixth time!) this year for Brain Tumour UK is quite simple; a close friend, Sean, who is also my boss, had a large tumour removed in July 2011. It was initially found three years ago to be a benign tumour which in time unfortunately turned malignant. Sean is now making a fair recovery but is unlikely to ever work again We went to the same school together and both are same age of 42 years old. Having seen some of the work that Addenbrookes have carried out on such an aggressive tumour I thought it only right for this year Brain Tumour UK to be my chosen charity. This is such a worthwhile cause. Let’s raise as much money as we can!
Help Richard raise funds for us