Despite a foot injury that disrupted her training six weeks before the marathon — and began causing pain before mile 13 — Helen Chalton still completed the London Marathon in 5 hours and 37 minutes. Reflecting on the race, she said, “I didn’t push things and just aimed to get round and enjoy it. Given that, and the heat on the day, I’m really happy with how it went.”
She added that the support along the course was “fantastic”, and she even managed to spot Mike and a friend a couple of times, stopping briefly to chat with them before carrying on.
She has now fully recovered, though she admits that stairs “were not her friend” for the first few days. When asked whether she would do it again, Helen didn’t hesitate: “I would definitely do it again if I could — it was so well organised from start to finish. I’m over the moon with the amount raised, as I really didn’t expect it to be so much.”
Dr Joanna Tilley, LMRUK’s Operations Director, said, “We are so grateful to Helen — she has raised an incredible amount for our charity, and her commitment truly makes a difference. Fundraisers like Helen are essential to our work. A significant share of LMRUK’s income comes from individual donations and community fundraising, so the generosity of supporters is vital. It allows us to continue funding pioneering research into blood cancers and stem cell therapies, and to support families choosing to bank their baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells for future use through our Model Cell Biobank service.”
If you’re feeling inspired by Helen’s challenge and ready to take on your own, we have places available in marathons, half marathons and 10ks across the UK. You can also get involved in cycling, swimming, Tough Mudder and skydiving events — or even organise your own challenge!
Find out more here or email us cs@lmruk.org
