Meet our incredible 2026 London Marathon runners
As the London Marathon returns later this month, eight incredible runners are approaching the final days of their dedicated training in support of Mid and South Essex Hospitals. One thing they all have in common is their dedication to supporting their local hospital; each with their own personal story of how much the staff and care they received had an impact on their lives.
From first‑time marathoners to regular marathon runners, these individuals are turning their miles into raising vital funds to help local hospitals go further for their patients and families.
Here are some of the inspiring stories behind this year’s Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity marathon team.
Jake Slade
Jake has worked at Southend Hospital for 18 years and is running his first marathon for the Hospital at home and OPAT services, inspired by the incredible care he sees his colleagues deliver every day. He began running three years ago to improve his health, losing nearly four stone along the way, and now feels proud to take on this challenge in support of a team that makes such a difference to patients.
Dr Oliver Broderick‑Basar
Oliver will be running the London Marathon in memory of his grandad, raising funds for the Basildon Renal and Dialysis unit where his family received compassionate care for many years. He first took up running during lockdown, transforming his fitness and developing a real passion for the sport.
Now a doctor at Basildon Hospital, Oliver, from Wickford said, “Running for the team who supported my grandad with such kindness makes this challenge incredibly special. It feels like my way of giving back.” Despite balancing training with busy A&E shifts, he’s determined and looking forward to the moment he crosses the finish line.
Miles Harmsworth
Miles is taking on his first marathon and has chosen to support the Children’s burns club at Broomfield Hospital. Inspired by his mum’s decades‑long nursing career and his own experience volunteering at regular burns camp weekends.
Miles, who lives in London said “The Burns Club offers something equally vital to the hospital’s medical care: a community where these children can simply be themselves, make friends who truly understand, and just be kids again. That is what I am running for”.
Joe Elliott
A very special year for Joe, who will be running his 20th consecutive London Marathon. Having supported many charities over the years, he has chosen to dedicate this milestone run to cancer services – a cause deeply personal to his family. Joe, from Benfleet has lost loved ones to cancer, including his aunty who was one of his biggest running supporters, and several friends and family members have faced diagnoses in recent years. “Running for a cause so close to our hearts means everything,” he says.
Joe’s commitment to running is remarkable: he trains every single day at 5am – a routine he’s maintained for over a decade – fitting in 10 miles before work. Supported wholeheartedly by his wife, he logged more than 5,000 miles last year. Finishing races with his children and his wife by his side remains one of his proudest memories.
Peter Newman
This will be Peter’s eighth marathon, and his second time taking on the iconic London Marathon. This year, Peter, from Leigh-on-Sea is running in support of the Butterfly Suite at Southend Hospital in memory of his baby daughter, Tilly. Supporting the unit that cared for his family means a great deal to him, and he hopes his efforts will help other families going through the most difficult moments.
Maggie Gallagher
Leigh-on-Sea resident, Maggie will be running in support of Southend’s Chemotherapy unit, where her mum, Jules, has received treatment for stage 4 cancer since 2013. Maggie’s confident in her training having completed two half marathons already this year. Running to honour her mum’s strength and the care she continues to receive makes this challenge especially meaningful for Maggie.