Ready. Steady. Go Team Orange!
This year, we are excited to introduce our 9 outstanding runners supporting Challengers at the London Marathon! Team Orange will be raising essential funds, transforming the lives of disabled young people and their families through the power of play. Our amazing runners have already raised over £16,000 and we hope you can help them reach their goals before the big day!
Now, get inspired and meet our amazing London Marathon team of 2026…
Siobhan
- Why are you running for Challengers? Working in a primary school I fully appreciate the importance of what challengers stand for and the amazing work they do. I feel so lucky that I’m getting to run for them.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? The atmosphere! And seeing all my friends and family along the route.
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? Meeting up with my love ones and enjoying lots and lots of food!
Ben
- Why are you running for Challengers? I’ve watched the London Marathon on the TV since being a kid, and I always wanted to run it but never thought I could. After running the Southampton half marathon last year I felt that maybe I might just live to see through a full marathon. Challengers gave me my first job when I was 16, and they gave me my passion for supporting young people with disabilities ever since – it’s now time to pay them back & I get to experience a lifelong ambition. I’m excited and terrified.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? I’m looking forward to all of it to be honest, the build up, the crowds, the landmarks & hopefully making my family proud. I aim to raise even more money too!
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? Beer, hot tub, food, more food, a day off, food and more hot tub. And maybe some more food.
Zuzanne
- Why are you running for Challengers? I’m running for Challengers as my middle son receives respite from Challengers, so I want to increase awareness of the charity and raise funds to support the charity.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? I’m looking forward to taking part in such an iconic event, as I’m told the atmosphere is unbelievable.
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? I’m probably going to celebrate by wearing my finishers medal for the rest of the day, with a big grin on my face.
Lisa-Marie
- Why are you running for Challengers? I’ve been on a marathon journey since 2018 when I turned 40. I didn’t like the idea of turning 40 so I wanted to turn the ‘Decade of Decline’ into something cooler. I decided instead that my 40s would be a decade of dreaming big, meeting new people and challenging myself in new things. I’m running London Marathon for the second time (my first time was in 2019), both times raising money for worthy causes. This time around I am running London Marathon to raise awareness and funds for Challengers because from everything I’ve witnessed first-hand, this charity deserves my support. And I hope that every time I wear orange (which is definitely not on my colour wheel), one more person is curious enough to learn more about this wonderful charity.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? Marathons are an amazing thing. You have humanity gathering from around the world, all with one purpose-to challenge themselves and achieve something that they once thought was impossible. Except with London, most runners are also taking part in aid of hundreds of worthy charities, like Challengers. So, I’m looking forward to the great vibes, amazing people, weird and wonderful costumes and all the amazing energy along the way. The marathon is simply our 26.2 victory lap!
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? I have nothing special planned. I’ll simply grab my medal, enjoy the crowds, then head home to my husband and two children who will hopefully be inspired to one day challenge themselves in this way or something similar. I run for myself but I also run to show my children that anything worthwhile takes effort, time, grit and self-belief.
Rachel
- Why are you running for Challengers? It’s a fantastic local charity that does so much to support disabled children and their families. I’m delighted to be able to fund raise for Challengers, to help it continue its great work.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? Crossing the finish line! (And also – hopefully – enjoying the atmosphere and support as I run round.)
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? Giving my three children a big hug! (They have been super supporters of my training – even running a half marathon with me in freezing conditions!)
Holly
- Why are you running for Challengers? I’m running for Challengers because they make such a difference in the lives of the children, young people and the families they support. Working at Challengers during my time at University will always be such a fond memory of mine. Not only did I make lifelong friends, but I saw how much of an impact Challengers has firsthand.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? On the big day I’m most looking forward to experiencing the incredible crowds and spirit of the marathon itself. I’m hoping the excitement and buzz of the day will push me over the finish line.
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? To celebrate after, you’ll find me eating my body weight in pizza with all my friends! I’ll be wearing my medal with pride indefinitely.
Aoife
- Why are you running for Challengers?I used to work at Guildford Play and I saw first-hand the amazing impact Challengers have on young people and their families. I saw how much fun the children have, the opportunity to play freely and safely, and the valuable respite provided to families. I’m running the London Marathon to support Challengers in continuing to make a positive impact and bringing joy to young people’s lives!
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? I’m looking forward to putting all the training I’ve done into action and seeing my friends and family cheering me on from the sidelines.
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? I’ll probably celebrate with lots of food and chilling with my friends in St James’ Park!
Darren
- Why are you running for Challengers? I’m running because it will make a meaningful difference to Challengers and the support they offer.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? Reaching the finish line!
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? Meeting my friends who have supported me around the course.
Ed
- Why are you running for Challengers? Challengers have been around Guildford and therefore me, my whole life. I’ve seen all the great work they’ve done for people I know and the thousands more I don’t. It’s great to be able to get involved! I’m very proud to be representing them.
- What are you most looking forward to on the big day? After months of hard work and sacrifice, I’m really looking forward to finally putting it all to the test on race day. It’s a completely new experience for me, so I’m pretty much excited about all of it – the people, the sights, the toilets, everything! More than anything, I’m eager to find out what happens to my body after 34k….
- How will you be celebrating after the Marathon? I’m going to have a takeaway for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then have 3 bottles of wine (1 white, 2 red).
