The London Marathon is one of the world’s largest and most famous road races, with around 50,000 runners taking part each year. This year it will take place on the 26th April.
What makes it special is its spectacular route past landmarks like Greenwich, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace, combined with huge crowds lining the streets to cheer runners on. It’s also renowned for its charity focus as participants raise tens of millions of pounds annually, along with creative costumes, elite international competition, and an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes everyone from world-class athletes to first-time marathon runners.
Getting a ballot place for the London Marathon is very competitive. In recent years, over a million people have entered the public ballot. The odds are usually around 1 in 20 (about 4–5%). That difficulty is part of what makes a ballot place feel so special.
So when Kelly (@AikenDogPhotography) whom we met through our photo sessions, told us she will be running the London Marathon, we were in awe. One, because even though we had a suspicion that she was very athletic, we didn’t know to what extent. Two, how difficult it is to win the ballot. And then we cried when she told us she is running to raise money for Harbin Slaughterhouse Survivors – the shelter where Lulu came from. It is not mandatory to raise money but Kelly chose to.
So instead of just telling her story, I will let Kelly tell it to us.
Hello all! 👋 🐾 In 2025, I got a lucky ballot place in the 2026 TCS London Marathon. Chances of getting through the public ballot were extremely competitive (about 1 in 20 to 50), as over 1.1 million people applied for around 15,000–20,000 spots.
For this lifetime opportunity, I wanted to make my first marathon extra meaningful. As a ballot runner, it’s optional to run for charity, but I still want to take this chance to let people know about an extraordinary rescue charity close to my values: Harbin Slaughter House Survivors Animal Rescue in China.
On the 26th of April, I’ll aim to run 42km; my weekly training will be the toughest, consisting of 30-60km of running. Showing up in the rain, the dark winter nights, and through underlying injuries.
I picked up running again in 2025 and ran CaniCross with my dog, Momo. He has changed my life for the better, and through him, I truly understand how wonderful and loving pets can be in our lives.
By capturing images of him, I have expanded my passion for photography into pets and met many loving dogs and owners.
Learning about the brutal realities that dogs and other pets face with the illegal dog meat trade in China (and other parts of Asia) draws out emotions and concern for their welfare. If it were not for Harbin SHS, over 5000 pets and animals would have been left to neglect, abuse, torture and slaughter. With criminals often not convicted.
Yet so many rehabilitated pets have found their way abroad through adoption to forever families, living lives worth living. These animals have no voice of their own in a society that doesn’t legally protect them, so this is why I’ll run for this charity that stands up for them and risks their own safety to face dog traffickers.
Last year, I completed a half-marathon race, so the London Marathon is a big deal to me. Knowing I can raise awareness about Harbin SHS and see people donate will be the fuel I need through the last stretch to the finish line. I hope to finish it under 5 hours.
You can donate anonymously or just a handful. If you can’t donate, sharing my fundraiser on social media will be powerful too. Thank you so much, everyone. 🙏😊
Please help make Kelly’s London marathon run a memorable one for more reasons than one. This is her Just Giving page. She aims to raise £1000 for Harbin Slaughter House Survivors. And please share this.
