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2018 London Marathon Team

Photos and comments from the Miscarriage Association's 2018 London Marathon team.

Below the photo gallery and comments are links to stories from some of our Team 2018 and a link to more information about London Marathon 2019.

“Running VLM for the Miscarriage Association will be an experience that I will never forget. I have made lifelong friends, ticked an item off my bucket list and raised awareness about miscarriage. Friends and family now speak openly about their experience of loss and to me that is the biggest achievement from my journey.” – Hayley

“Omg what an amazing experience the marathon was! The M.A. team were fantastic, and we went from a bunch of strangers connected by tragedy to lifelong friends. I started running after we lost Layla, our first baby (a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks). Running initially gave me something to focus on and a way to feel a sense of achievement when I felt a failure as a woman at keeping my baby alive. I never dreamed that 4 years later I would have completed the hottest London marathon on record!” – Sarah B.

“Running the London Marathon for the Miscarriage Association was the best decision I’ve ever made!! It gave me an amazing drive to want to complete it, for my angel Sebastian who was born sleeping at 16 weeks and my special rainbow baby Max who cheered me on all the way! The darkest time in my life drove me to do the craziest thing I’ve attempted, I’ve met some lovely friends who have hearts of gold but unfortunately share the same heart break as myself. It has been an honour to represent the charity and spread the word!! Let’s continue to break the miscarriage taboo!!” – Hollie

“I used to run, but fell out of love with it after my miscarriage. On a whim, I applied for the London Marathon a couple of years later, and was lucky enough to get a ballot place, and took the opportunity to raise funds for the Miscarriage Association. My miscarriage suddenly had a voice, and it’s amazing how openly talking about it has meant I’m able to discuss and support friends in the same situation. Completing the Marathon was a life changing event, and I’ll never forget it, or the support of the amazing team I completed it alongside with.” – Gill

“Running for the M.A. in the London Marathon was an experience I’ll never forget. After my wife suffered three miscarriages I turned to running as a way of relieving the stress and frustration I was feeling. This culminated in the completion of the hottest London marathon on record! I made some great friends on this journey, and if it hadn’t been for Lauren M. there is no way I would have completed it. Teamwork makes the dream work!” – Mike F.

“After sadly having another miscarriage in January, I knew I needed to run to help with my grief. I was extremely lucky to get a place running for the Miscarriage Association. What an absolutely amazing bunch of people I found myself with, we shared our personal stories, training, injuries and many laughs on the road to race weekend. Meeting up with all the runners and the M.A. team members at the Expo, pasta party and morning of the race was just amazing, these are people I now have the absolute privilege to call friends. During the marathon, coming up to mile 18 and spotting the flags was amazing, what a reception from the cheer squad! I without a doubt loved every painful, tiring step. It has made such a difference being so open with my experiences and has helped me so very much. I’m really hoping that I’ve helped take a little more of the taboo away surrounding miscarriage, whist raising much needed funds along the way.” – Carol

“After my miscarriage, I felt like my world had fallen apart. After a while in counselling I was diagnosed with a form of PTSD. Running gave me focus and allowed me to occupy my mind. Running the marathon for the M.A. was the greatest honour. I was so proud to represent such an amazing charity and raise awareness about miscarriage. The London Marathon was one of the best and hardest things I’ve ever done (I got injured two weeks prior to the big day), but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have made lifelong friends in my teammates – they were and still are the most awesome support network! Special shout out to Mike F. – we hobbled those last few miles together, waving to the crowds like celebrities to get us through the pain!” – Lauren M.

“My wife and I had suffered recurrent miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy which resulted in her losing a fallopian tube, afterwards we were devastated, lost, alone. We weren’t made aware of the Miscarriage Association or the fabulous work they do. So for me running for such a fantastic cause was full of positives. I got to tick something off my bucket list, I learnt about myself and I made lifelong friends in the team mates that I ran with on the day and have stayed in touch with ever since. I also created a greater awareness that in those dark times you are not alone, and raised money to help the Miscarriage Association continue their great work and help out people in their darkest hours.” – Dan

“I have been running for 3 years and was ready for a challenge. Especially as I was turning 40. I had decided to run the London Marathon and instantly knew I would run for the Miscarriage Association. After 4 miscarriages, 3 of which were in the space of 18 months, the M.A. supported both me and my husband through some very dark times. Running the London Marathon was an amazing experience and a day I will never forget. Team M.A. has been there every step of the way. The support and friendship from all the runners has been fantastic.” – Annie

“When I announced that I was running VLM for the Miscarriage Association, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who approached me to tell me that they too had suffered a miscarriage, and to thank me for being prepared to talk about it. The support from the charity was fantastic both in the build up to the marathon and on the day, and the other runners have become firm friends. We have bonded over the heartbreak of loss, battled through training, then we ran the hottest London Marathon on record. Would I do it again… absolutely.” – Lauren G.

“Running the London Marathon was definitely something I never saw myself doing, but as soon as I saw I could do it for the Miscarriage Association I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. To run for such an amazing charity meant the world to me and my family. It helped us talk about what we have been through a lot more openly and to help us with our grief. I have met some wonderful people and it was nice to meet some of the people behind the charity who do an amazing job! By bringing awareness to this charity it will help so many people in more ways than you realise who have to go through the loss of a child as it has me and my wife.” – Joshua

“2018 was my 25^th London Marathon, and my 8^th for the M.A.. Unfortunately due to a heart problem, it was also my last. During my 8 years running for the M.A. the team spirit and support has always been more like a family, this year was even more so, especially with the pasta party the night before. Although my trainers are well and truly hung up now, I will still be there in 2019 supporting my friends running for the M.A..” – Terry