A huge and heart-felt thank you to long-term supporter, Andy McCallion for running the London Marathon in aid of Ivison Trust this weekend and raising a staggering £20,000 (thanks to generous matching of a corporate supporter).
As a small charity without any annually allocated tickets, it is incredibly hard to secure a place – so we were over the moon to get lucky in the charity ballot and get our first ever place for 2026.
It was a beautiful day in London for supporters this Sunday, but less than perfect weather for the runners as the sun baked down on the masses by mid afternoon. It turned out to be a very special event, with the world record being broken by Sebastian Sawe by an incredible 30 seconds.
The crowds were joyous and enthusiastic, with runners being treated to brass bands, gospel choirs, drumming, live celebrity DJ sets, high fives and free sweets as they made their way through the capital.
Andy said:
“It felt like an immense privilege on a beautifully sunny day to be running around London in the middle of the road and being applauded and celebrated – rather than honked at by a bus or decked by a Lime bike.
I really started to struggle around 20 miles in but the cheers of the crowd and the generosity of everyone that donated – and the thoughts of what that generosity would mean to the work that Ivison Trust is able to do – kept me staggering onwards.
I am so grateful to everyone who donated, and I know that Ivison Trust will be able to put the money raised to good use supporting parents and carers fighting child exploitation.”
Andy’s page is still open for donations and he would hugely appreciate any further support!
The ballot to enter the London Marathon is open until 16.00pm on the 1st May – odds of a spot are 1 in 50, but if you are lucky enough to win a place, and would like to make it extra special by supporting Ivison Trust, we will help you every step of the way with your fundraising.