Meet your TOFS 2026 London Marathon team.
Scroll down to read their stories and click here to sponsor them.
Running in support of TOFS are:
Ian Evans
I am running the London Marathon to raise money for a charity that’s incredibly close to my heart, TOFS.
As a family, we’ve experienced first hand the invaluable support TOFS provides. They are a wonderful charity dedicated to helping families of children born with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula and/or Oesophageal Atresia. Now, it’s my turn to give something back and help them continue their amazing work.
To kickstart my fundraising and add a little extra challenge, I’ll be growing a beard from Sunday, October 26th, 2025 – exactly 26 weeks before the big day. This “Beard-a-thon” will run all the way up to the marathon itself. I’ll be providing regular updates (with some neat trimmings along the way, of course, I don’t want to look like one of Roald Dahl’s Twits!) to show the progress. The beard will only be shaved off after I cross the finish line.
By taking on these challenges, I hope to raise as much money as possible to ensure other families can benefit from the same level of care and support we did. Please follow my journey and help me reach my fundraising goal.
Ollie McCarthy
Hi my name is Ollie and I am really excited to be running London Marathon 2026 for TOFS.
Our son was born with a Tracheal-Oesophageal Fistula and Oesophageal Atresia in September 2024 11 weeks premature without warning.
We had never heard of TOF/OA before his birth and had no indication he was going to be born with the condition.
We were very quickly thrust into a whirlwind of trying to understand what we were dealing with and what the long term implications were. It was all very stressful and scary but we managed to navigate through those first few months with the support of the TOFS charity and their Facebook group.
We bought the book and read the stories of what others had experienced. And although we know each TOF journey is different we took solace that many kids go on to live ordinary lives.
Although our journey is just starting the charity has been instrumental in helping prepare us for the road ahead.
Being able to run the marathon for them is the opportunity for me to give back and help others who have been and will be in the same situation we find ourselves in. I hope that it can further help the reach of the charity and in the long term enable more TOF kids to live normal lives. Plus I hope in some small way it can show my son that if you put your mind to it, you can overcome any tough obstacles you may face.
Yasmin Roud
This year, I’m running the marathon in support of TOFS, a charity very close to my heart.
My little brother was born with OA/TOF (Oesophageal Atresia/Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula), a rare condition that meant he spent a lot of his early life in hospital, facing more battles than any baby or child should. But thanks to amazing care, support – and a whole lot of his strength – he’s now a thriving teenager and most likely would run this marathon a hell of a lot better than me!
TOFS has played a huge role in supporting families like mine. They work tirelessly, both nationally and internationally, to ensure that anyone born with OA/TOF can live a full and healthy life, unrestricted by their condition.
Running this marathon is my way of giving back, to help TOFS continue their amazing work, so more children and adults affected by OA/TOF get the support they need to live life unlimited, just like my baby brother.
Every donation, no matter the size, will help change lives.
Thank you so much for your support.
Yassy
Yvonne Booth
In April 2026, I’ll be running the London Marathon to raise funds for TOFS.
This cause is deeply personal. My daughter Emily was born with long-gap OA and faced unimaginable challenges from day one. From life-saving surgeries and months in intensive care to ongoing feeding difficulties and painful complications, her strength and resilience inspire me every single day.
OA/TOF is rare, and awareness, even within the medical profession, is limited.
Throughout Emily’s childhood, we encountered uncertainty and hesitation from healthcare providers, especially during emergencies when food became stuck in her oesophagus. On one occasion, she was even questioned about her mental health and asked if she had an eating disorder such as bulimia.
TOFS has been a lifeline for families like ours, offering support, raising awareness, and advocating for better care. They receive no government funding and rely entirely on donations.
Please support my marathon journey and help TOFS continue their incredible work. Every step I take is for Emily and for every child who deserves a fighting chance.
Want to get involved?
Interested in taking on a challenge for TOFS? Head over to our fundraising events page to get some ideas.
