TCS London Marathon Charity Places

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​​We were fortunate to secure ONE charity ballot place in the 2025 TCS London Marathon (our 30th anniversary year) and we are delighted to have ONE charity ballot place in the 2026 TCS London Marathon too!

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It's an epic challenge! The legendary route takes in many of London's best landmarks including Buckingham Palace, The Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge.

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In 2025, SWASFT Emergency Care Assistant, George Medcalf completed the famous 26.2 mile course with over 65,000 other runners. He raised over £4,000 for our charity, which was absolutely phenomenal! ​​​​​​​​​Looking forward to 2026, George said; "It will be magical for whoever gets the opportunity".
 

The 2026 TCS London Marathon 

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We are delighted to announce that Carys Walsh has been selected to run for us in the 2026 London Marathon due to her deeply personal connection to the South Western Ambulance Service and her family's previous history of supporting our charity. ​

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In 2018, Carys’ mum and dad were involved in a devastating car accident on the M5, where tragically her dad, Rod, died and her mum, Ceri, was very seriously injured with a broken neck and back. Carys and her brother were fortunately not in the car that day as they were both at school.

 

As Carys says: “The ambulance service saw things that day that no human should see; they see things like this on a regular basis… running for this charity can now allow me to repay the wonderful care they gave to both my dad and my mum, who amazingly survived”.

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With her 18th birthday just a few weeks before race day, Carys will be one of the very youngest entrants in the 2026 TCS London Marathon, and she is determined to take on this challenge. She will be fitting her training in around her A-levels which will follow soon after the event. Carys is studying Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and intends to study medicine, possibly Paramedic Science, so we could see her joining the green family one day. Her dad worked for the NHS and her mum is a nurse who has worked for the NHS for over 30 years, and the family have been long-time supporters of the South Western Ambulance Charity.

 

Please show your support for Carys by donating on her JustGiving page . 

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Did you get a place in the 2026 Public Ballot? 

 

The Public Ballot has now taken place and if you were successful in securing a place and would like to show your support for the South Western Ambulance Charity, then we would love to talk to you and tell you about ways that we can support you. Please do get in touch!

 

Running With Us

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All of our major event fundraisers receive support from us to achieve their fundraising targets. PLUS we offer free access to 'Running With Us', a team of highly experienced coaches who support everyone from newbie runners to triathletes to be prepared for their events, avoid or manage any injuries and be ready to take part safely on event day.

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Other Challenges are Available!

 

If you think that you have the passion, drive and tenacity to support the South Western Ambulance Charity by taking on a major fundraising challenge then do take a look at the opportunities that we have on offer at our Events and Challenges page, or contact us to see if we can access places at other events. ​​

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Best of luck to our team who are signed up to take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2026!

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If you have any questions please email us at charity@swast.nhs.uk or call Louise Walsh, our Fundraising Manager, on 07825 853630​.