FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spirit of the London Marathon award winners announced
Six inspiring participants named as
2021 Spirit of the London Marathon award winners
Six new recipients of the Spirit of the London Marathon Awards were
announced today (Tuesday 29 March).
Deo Kato, Elliott Brock and Vicky Lawrence, Gina Little, Haroon Mota and
Laura Hughes are the latest winners of the award, which was created in 2018
to celebrate individuals who demonstrate the unique spirit of the London
Marathon.
The announcement comes on the anniversary of the very first London
Marathon, held on 29 March 1981. The six new recipients of the award, all
of whom participated in the 2021 London Marathon, join a select list of
individuals or groups who have embodied the spirit of the London Marathon
over the 42 editions of the event.
In 2021, the London Marathon returned to the streets of London for the
first time in 889 days after its postponement in 2020 due to the pandemic.
This event – under the campaign ‘We Run Together' – showcased the community
spirit, togetherness and inclusivity of the world's biggest marathon. More
than 35,800 people completed the course in London, while a further 24,000
people participated around the world in the virtual London Marathon.
Among those taking part in the mass event in London were Deo, Elliott and
Vicky, Gina, Haroon and Laura who proved, once again, that the Spirit of
the London Marathon can shine through even in the most challenging of
times.
Deo Kato, 34, London
Deo, a Ugandan-born trail and ultra-runner based in London, ran the London
Marathon for the Running For Justice project, which began in June 2020
following the murder of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis. Deo
committed to running a minimum of 10K a day for 381 days, inspired by the
Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, when African Americans in Alabama staged a
civil rights protest for 381 days. Deo finished his run streak in June 2021
before taking on 26.2 miles at the London Marathon to continue raising
awareness of social and racial injustice.
On finding out he was a Spirit of the London Marathon Award winner, he
said: "I was in disbelief, but at the same time, extremely honoured and
excited even to have been considered for the award.
"Participating in last year's London Marathon, I was blown away by the
support from the crowds who cheered me on seeing that I was Running For
Justice. It was my first London Marathon, and I was overwhelmed with
emotions of joy running through the streets I grew up on."
Elliott Brock, 42, Essex, and Vicky Lawrence, 22, Birmingham
Thirteen years after soon-to-be father-of-three Elliott donated bone marrow
that saved medical student Vicky's life, the pair ran the 2021 London
Marathon side-by-side for the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity.
As a child, Vicky was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer and
received a bone marrow transplant when she was eight years old after
Elliott's stem cell donation was identified as a close genetic match.
Fast-forward to 2021, following her full recovery, Vicky was fit and well
and ran her first-ever London Marathon alongside Elliott to raise money and
awareness for the charity that helped facilitate her recovery.
Watch on YouTube: Vicky & Elliott
"The London Marathon was a day that I'll never forget as long as I live,"
says donor Elliott. "The lead-up was unbelievable. It could not have gone
any better: to feature on national TV and radio multiple times, to
publicise our story and cause to so many people was incredible, and we were
so happy to help a charity that is extremely close to both our hearts. The
marathon itself was absolutely phenomenal – the crowds, the sights, and the
atmosphere was 10 times better than I ever imagined. It was a truly
stunning day."
His running companion Vicky said: "Having looked through the previous
winners of the Spirit of the London Marathon, I feel very honoured to have
been chosen for this award and grateful for all the support both Anthony
Nolan and the London Marathon team provided running up to the Marathon Day.
"After having a difficult build-up to the London Marathon due to injury and
illness, my goal for the day was to get around the course and try to enjoy
myself for as much of it as possible. I struggled from mile 18 and was so
grateful to have Elliott there beside me the whole time. I was so happy to
complete the marathon and even happier for the hot meal at the Anthony
Nolan after party!"
Gina Little, 76, London
Londoner Gina lives on the London Marathon route in Greenwich and spent
many years cheering participants on from her home before being inspired to
run for the first time in 1983. Since then, Gina has completed 36 London
Marathons – the most by a woman – and a staggering total of 590 marathons
in 46 countries. In 2021, she finished third in the 75 to 79 age category
at the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championships.
"I feel very honoured that I have been awarded for something I love doing,"
said the 76-year-old. "The atmosphere (at the 2021 London Marathon) was
electric; everyone was so excited. The crowds were all out as usual
cheering us along."
Gina nearly hung up her running trainers in 2000 after her first husband
died but decided to keep going to help with her grief. She will be running
her 600th marathon three weeks before she takes on her 37th London Marathon
on Sunday 2 October.
Haroon Mota, 36, Coventry
Haroon, who champions diversity in exercise and fitness as part of his work
at Active Inclusion Network, completed four marathons throughout 2021
raising money for the charity Penny Appeal, where he worked as Head of
Challenge Events. He ran the London Marathon as part of a mission to raise
£50,000 for an appeal to increase awareness and aid for those affected by
the Covid-19 pandemic in Palestine.
The 35-year-old ran more than 1,000 miles in training for his four-marathon
challenge and finished the London Marathon in just over five hours. After
waiting more than two years to run in London after the pandemic, he said of
the 2021 event:
"889 days since the last one…it was such a special experience considering
we had just emerged from the pandemic. I was so excited to be running
through the streets of London again. For me Marathon Day is about pushing
myself to have the best race.
"I am beyond ecstatic to receive a Spirit of the London Marathon Award. I
couldn't contain the excitement when I heard the news. It's so nice to get
recognition and appreciation for all the hard work I do, and I hope it will
be a means of inspiration for others."
Laura Hughes, 39, Liverpool
Laura ran the 2021 London Marathon in memory of her brother, Colin McGinty,
who was a victim of a knife attack and died from his injuries in March
2001. Since then, Laura has campaigned for improved education for young
people on the lasting impacts of knife crime and the dangers of carrying
knives and other weapons.
Running the London Marathon gave Laura, and her two surviving brothers, the
chance to raise money to pay for KnifeSaver Bleed Control Packs to be
placed in areas with high youth footfall across Liverpool. If a knife
attack occurs, the packs can help stop or slow the flow of bleeding until
emergency services arrive.
Laura says of winning her award: "It's truly amazing and overwhelming. The
support from the London Marathon team, our campaigners and the spectators
on the day itself was absolutely mind-blowing.
"For me personally the marathon was mentally tough, and I hit the dreaded
wall at around mile 15. I knew that I was physically trained for the event,
but I hadn't considered the emotion that comes with running a marathon and
remembering what we were running for.
"My team-mates and the crowds got me through to the very end where we
headed down The Mall to Eye of the Tiger."
The 2021 winners will be presented with their awards today, Tuesday 29
March, alongside the 2020 winners – Aaron Plummer, Barbara Ralph and Jo
Gennari.
Previous Spirit of the London Marathon Award winners:
- Aaron Plummer
- Barbara Ralph
- Charlie Dark
- Charlie Guenigault
- Chris Moon
- Claire Lomas
- Claude Umuhire
- Dave Heeley
- David Weir
- Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen
- Fauja Singh
- Helen Williams
- James Ingham
- Jane Smith
- Jill Tyrell
- Jo Gennari
- Joyce Smith
- Kathrine Switzer
- Matthew Rees and David Wyeth
- Michael Watson
- North Kensington and Paddington Red Watch firefighters
- Scott Mitchell
- Steve Chalke MBE
- Paula Radcliffe
- Rhian Burke
- Roy Webber
- Simon Kindleysides
- Stephen Lawrence's Team
- Tanni-Grey Thompson
- Zamzam Farah
You can read more about the previous award winners here.
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