Tragic, uplifting and bizarre stories at the 45th London Marathon

From a Hindu monk to athletes with disabilities: some 56,000 runners will attempt the 45th London Marathon on Sunday, where inspiring sporting and human stories will take centre stage.

- Record-breaking -

According to its organisers, the London race is the most popular marathon in the world: 840,318 runners entered the ballot to take part in the 2025 edition, a 43 percent increase on last year.

The marathon is also the world's biggest single-day fundraising event with over œ1.3 billion ($1.72 billion) raised for charity since the first race in 1981.

Around 75 percent of participants raise money for non-profit organisations and causes.

This year, more than 700 people are running for Pancreatic Cancer UK, to help fund tests to detect one of the most deadliest cancers.
- Southport tribute -

On July 29, 2024, Alice da Silva, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6, were killed in a brutal stabbing spree in Southport, northern England, that shocked the country. The girls were enjoying a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class when the attack took place.

Elsie and Alice's fathers will be taking part in the marathon in memory of their daughters.

Sergio Aguiar, Alice's father, will run alongside teachers from the school that his daughter and Bebe attended. They are raising money to build a new playground at the school.

Alice's "boundless energy, enthusiasm and creativity will be celebrated in the new playground by other pupils every day," said Aguiar.

- Running with physical impairments -

Dave Heeley, 67, known as "Blind Dave", will be running his 17th and last marathon this weekend with his three daughters.

In 2008, he became the first blind person to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Heeley had decided to stop running marathons this year after undergoing two knee replacements, but his daughters convinced him to do one last 26-mile stretch.

Alex Gibson, a 47-year-old man with a rare neurodegenerative disease causing progressive paralysis will do the race in a wheelchair. However, he will walk the last kilometre to prove that "anything is possible".

"I should have stopped walking years ago" because of the "cruel disease", said Gibson. "But I am adamant that I will continue to face the challenge and push through."

- The devoted runners -

Six runners have taken part in every London Marathon since its debut in 1981. For them, there is no draw: they have a reserved spot every year.

Chris Finill, 66, is one of them. His most memorable race was 2018 when he managed to make the finish line to his "immense relief" after breaking his arm in a fall in the first few kilometres.

- The other devoted runner -

It will be the first marathon for 35-year-old Hindu monk Brahmacharini Chaitanya, who hopes to show that "ancient wisdom and modern challenges can co-exist harmoniously".

While the marathon is "undeniably a physical challenge, it ultimately becomes a profound mental battle," she said.

On her fundraising page for a Hindu mission, she talks about she how she did everything at school to avoid running. She started training for the London Marathon in January.

- Not all heroes wear capes -

Some participants are after more unusual records -- Jamie Campbell, 31, hopes to become the "world's fastest shrimp".

To achieve this feat, he will need to run the race in less than 3 hours, 13 minutes and 18 seconds -- the time taken by the current record-holder for the fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean.

"If I don't (beat it), I will be a very unhappy shrimp," said Campbell.

Laura Coleman-Day, 33, will wear her wedding dress in memory of her husband who died of leukaemia in February 2024. The marathon falls on a special date: their wedding anniversary.