Harrogate Dad Chases 2nd Marathon Record for Cancer, Alzheimer's

When Jeremie Maillard crosses the London Marathon finish line on April 26th, he'll be wearing a crown and medieval robes while racing against a clock that holds deep personal meaning.

The Harrogate father of three already holds the world record for fastest marathon dressed as a mythical creature, completing 26.2 miles as a unicorn in three hours and 26 minutes back in 2022. Now he's attempting to break the record for fastest runner dressed as a monarch, and he needs to beat his own previous time to do it.

But the real story isn't about the costume or the clock. Jeremie runs in memory of his father, who died from Alzheimer's disease in 2017. This year's challenge carries extra weight after his mother received a diagnosis of advanced digestive system cancer.

Every pound he raises will be split equally between Alzheimer's Research UK and Yorkshire Cancer Research. It's his sixth London Marathon, and he's turning grief into action one mile at a time.

"I like running but I also like to raise money and awareness for charities too, and these causes are close to my heart," Jeremie said. The unicorn costume became a surprising source of joy: "People keep reminding me of the unicorn which is amazing."

Running 26.2 miles in a mask wasn't easy, but Jeremie says the atmosphere made it worthwhile. This time, he's sourced a King George outfit complete with a medieval theme and crown.

The Ripple Effect

Jeremie isn't stopping at London. He's planning a second endurance challenge later this year, a 100km race in France, as part of the same fundraising campaign. His kids now have a dad who's a world record holder, and thousands of people benefit from research funded by runners like him who refuse to let loss define them.

One man in a costume might seem silly until you understand what he's running toward: a world where families don't lose parents the way he did, where cancer diagnoses don't come too late.