Taking on the London Marathon
It’s not long now until over 50,000 runners take on the world-famous London Marathon on 26 April.
10 of them will be running for the Charlie Waller Trust, all motivated by a desire to provide support to young people struggling with their mental health.
Introducing our runners
Frazer Last is no stranger to taking on gruelling challenges for the Trust: he has previously walked from East Sussex to County Clare, Ireland in memory of two family members who died by suicide, and run 100km around Brighton and Hove Albion’s AMEX Stadium.
Pictured here with the Trust's Senior Events and Partnerships Manager, Frazer says: “The more I talk to people, the more I realise that almost everyone has been affected by mental health in some way – a truth that continues to drive my fundraising and advocacy.”
Stephen Wallace is also running in memory of someone, a treasured and much-missed friend. They worked together at Bradfield College, where Stephen first heard about the Trust.
He says: “My aim is to highlight the work of mental health charities and it’s truly special to be working with one so closely aligned with the College where my friend and I worked.”
Like Frazer and Stephen, George Ledger-Humphreys’ reason for supporting the Trust is very personal. His girlfriend, Molly, struggled with an eating disorder and the Trust provided vital support to her and her family. He says: “Inspired by the care she received, Molly ran the London Marathon in 2025, raising over £4,000 for the Trust – an achievement that has inspired me to continue that legacy.”
James Osmond has had his own experiences of mental health difficulties. He says: “Having suffered with anxiety and depression, I know firsthand the struggles young people face. The work of the Trust really resonates with me and I can’t wait to get out there with all the other Charlie Waller Trust runners and support such an amazing cause.”
Kevin Jones recently ran the Reading Half Marathon for the Trust but this will be his first marathon.
He plans to dress as Freddie Mercury, which he hopes will bring attention from other runners, spectators and commentators. He may even sing ‘We are the champions’ at the finish line!
It will be a first marathon for Cameron Harp too. He is an advocate for mental health, particularly in men. He sees the education that the Trust provides as the first step, one that has the potential to save lives.
He says: “I want to run the marathon not just for Charlie [Waller] and his legacy but for every young person silently fighting depression. I want them to know they’re not alone and help is out there.”
Warryn Lloyd will also be running his first marathon but has prepared for it by completing the London Landmarks Half Marathon with three colleagues from the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury Group. He says: “I’m keen to raise awareness of the work of the Trust and to help people facing mental health difficulties, a cause that is close to my heart.”
Alex Bass-Phillips loved the experience of running the Hackney Half Marathon for the Trust last year so much that he has chosen to double the distance!
From mountain trail races to tough endurance events, Alex likes to test his limits. He says that London will be no different:
“I’m not just aiming to get round the course, I’ll be pushing hard for a fast time and giving it everything I’ve got!”
These eight runners all have charity places for the London Marathon through the Trust but we’re also fortunate to have other runners who have chosen to use their ballot places to raise funds for us:
Tracy Brooks has connections with the Trust as she knows both Charlie’s brothers, and also has more personal reasons for running for us. She says: “My dear, lifelong friend Lucy lost her beautiful son, Dan, to suicide in 2021. The charity has given her and her family immense support.” Tracy hopes to raise more for the Trust in the Jurassic Coast Challenge next year.
Annabel Hosking first came across the Trust when a friend invited her to last year’s London Carol Service. She was particularly moved by one of the speakers and says:
“When someone you love is unwell, you want more than anything to help – but it isn’t always clear how. Supporting the individual means supporting the family and friends around them too and that’s exactly what the Charlie Waller Trust works to do.”
Emma Bowyer was inspired to enter the ballot for this year’s London Marathon after watching coverage of last year’s event. She has chosen to run for the Charlie Waller Trust because she has close family connections with the Waller family. She says: “I’m running in memory of Justin Smellie, my uncle, who we sadly lost to suicide in October 2019. Justin was at school with Charlie, so the Trust holds a deep personal meaning to my family.”
We’re incredibly grateful to each and every one of our runners and those who are supporting them.
It's sure to be an amazing day, even more so for those who have not run a marathon before. Tracy, who will be running her 30th marathon, shares her simple advice for those with less experience: “All I would say is if you are new to marathon running, enjoy the whole experience of London. From collecting your race pack to crossing that finish line, soak in every minute of it all. It is a truly unique experience.”
