Retired Soccer Star Aaron Ramsey Runs Marathon for Lost Friend

Aaron Ramsey could have spent his first weeks of retirement relaxing after 17 years of professional soccer. Instead, the former Wales captain is running 26.2 miles through London's streets this Sunday.

The 35-year-old is running for It's Never You, a charity created by his close friends Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis after losing their son Hugh to a rare cancer at just six years old. Ceri will run alongside him, carrying Hugh's shoes around his neck and wearing the names of over 500 children affected by serious illness on his back.

"I know Ceri and Fran and their family. I knew Hugh very well," Ramsey tells BBC Sport Wales. "My eldest boy, Sonny, is a similar age and they used to play with each other."

Hugh was diagnosed with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma in October 2020 when he was five. He died less than a year later, shortly after his sixth birthday, on September 18, 2021.

The loss hit close to home for Ramsey, whose own son was Hugh's friend and playmate. Watching the Menai-Davis family channel their grief into helping others facing similar situations moved him deeply.

"I can't imagine what they went through and what they are going through, but they've been an absolute inspiration to me, my family and many others," he says. The charity supports parents navigating their children's serious illnesses, providing resources and community that the Menai-Davis family wished they'd had.

Why This Inspires

Training through cold rain and wind has been lonely and difficult for Ramsey, especially after the physical demands of his playing career. But he says he's "enjoyed it in a weird way, being in the trenches a little bit."

His retirement came just weeks ago after spending his final months keeping himself fit in hopes of making Wales' World Cup squad. When that dream fell through, he made it official. The warmth of tributes from fans worldwide reminded him of the impact he'd made at Arsenal, Juventus, Cardiff, and beyond.

Now free from the demands of professional soccer, Ramsey is pursuing his coaching qualifications and has already managed Cardiff City for three games. But first, he has 26.2 miles to run.

"They've accomplished so much, and to see their drive and passion to try and make a difference in Hugh's memory is very inspiring," Ramsey says. "Now I'm retired, it frees me up a little bit more to be able to do these things."

Two friends will cross the finish line together, carrying the memory of an amazing little boy every step of the way.