Our incredible London Marathon runners raised £20,200 for animals

We want to say a huge thank you to Faye, Jayne, Jude, Luke, Matthew, Maya, Joe, Sam C., Sam W., Sean, Simon and Richard for everything they’ve done. From months of tough training to the final push over the finish line.

Thanks to their determination (and plenty of water, sweat and cheers!), they’ve already raised an incredible £20,200 to move the world for animals.

We caught up with a few of our runners after the finish line to hear how they got on:

"The support along the route was absolutely amazing" – Maya

Running in her first London Marathon, Maya battled through tough, hot conditions to cross the finish line with a huge smile.

"It was quite tough. It was quite hot when we started the race. I was thinking, maybe I’ll get a PB or maybe I'd beat my Chicago time, but by mile 6–7 I started to realise it wasn't going to happen," Maya said.

"But the support along the route was absolutely amazing. Having my name on my top really helped – people were shouting out. The people of London were absolutely amazing!"

Even when it got tough, Maya kept going by thinking about the people supporting her and the animals she was helping to protect. Now, she’s looking forward to a break from marathon training and focusing on shorter races.

"Tiring but thrilling" – Richard

For Richard, taking on the marathon in his 60s was no small feat but he made it look easy, finishing in an impressive 3 hours 23 minutes.

"Tiring but at the same time, thrilling really. It was just great," Richard said. "Even though I was glad to see the end, I'm still glad I did it."

And after smashing his target time, what was top of his to-do list? "A shower and a nice meal at a vegan restaurant!"

Richard, who trained listening only to the birds instead of music, said plenty of water and the determination to keep going were key to his success on the day.

"I'm glad we did it" – Matthew

Matthew also powered through the heat to complete his marathon in an impressive 3 hours 51 minutes, just one minute off his adjusted goal time.

"The first half was really enjoyable. The atmosphere was amazing – lots of people shouting, screaming, lots of music, which is great," he said.

"It got difficult towards the end, I’m not going to lie, it was very hard for the last five miles, but I'm glad we did it."

When the going got tough, it was the thought of his time goal and the fundraising for World Animal Protection that kept him pushing through to the finish line. His post-race reward? "A nice creamy Guinness... and maybe a bath too."

Thank you to every single one of our runners

You’ve helped raise vital funds that will change animals’ lives and you’ve inspired us with your grit, heart and incredible spirit.

And to everyone who donated, cheered, or tracked their progress: thank you for standing with us.