London Marathon Raises Millions for Kids With Cancer

Every day in the UK, 10 children are diagnosed with cancer, and two won't survive. This weekend's London Marathon is raising millions to change those odds.

Among the tens of thousands running through London's streets will be CBeebies presenter Evie Pickerill. She's racing for Children With Cancer UK after meeting young patients during hospital visits dressed as a Disney princess.

"I've seen first-hand what the children go through, but also what their families go through too," says Pickerill. She's become a familiar face to families whose children watch CBeebies from hospital beds during treatment.

The reality hits harder than most people realize. Children receive the same harsh chemotherapy as adults, but their smaller, still-developing bodies face decades of potential side effects. Of the eight children who survive each day, five will live with cognitive impairment, fertility issues, or other lasting health problems.

Only 2% of cancer research funding goes toward childhood cancers. Children With Cancer UK is working to close that gap, directing 75% of their funding toward research at hospitals and universities across the country.

The remaining 25% supports families facing impossible choices. Parents cut work hours or quit entirely to stay with sick children. Siblings fade into the background, experiencing what doctors call "forgotten sibling syndrome." Financial pressure builds alongside emotional exhaustion.

The charity provides travel grants for hospital appointments, accommodation near treatment centers, and family respite breaks. Their newest project is a collection of holiday cottages in North Yorkshire where families can stay free of charge.

"They can bring their families, they can bring their siblings," says Gavin Maggs, the charity's chief executive. "A granny, grandad, uncle who leaned in and did more babysitting when it was required."

The Ripple Effect

The London Marathon transforms the city into one long corridor of encouragement. Strangers hand out jelly babies and orange slices. Children hold homemade signs for runners they've never met. The energy radiates far beyond the 26.2 miles.

That same spirit of showing up for others drives the marathon's real impact. The millions raised this weekend will fund research breakthroughs, support families through their darkest days, and give sick children moments to just be kids again.

Every step matters, whether it's taken by someone in a rhino costume or a beloved children's TV presenter. Every pound raised brings hope to the 10 families who will hear those devastating words today, tomorrow, and every day after.

This weekend, London runs for children who can't.