London Marathon Countdown
Our Runners Take on 26.2 Miles for Awareness and Hope
The countdown is on for the TCS London Marathon, one of the world’s most iconic sporting events, taking place this Sunday 26th April 2026. As thousands of runners prepare to take on 26.2 miles through the capital, we are incredibly proud to see three Heartburn Cancer UK supporters running to raise awareness and vital funds for oesophageal cancer.
Each of our runners – Shay Cooper, Andy Harris, and Ian Annis – has a deeply personal reason for taking part, united by a shared commitment to helping others understand the importance of early diagnosis and recognising persistent symptoms.
Shay Cooper
Shay Cooper, Executive Chef at The Lanesborough Hotel, is running in support of Heartburn Cancer UK. The Lanesborough has supported the charity since 2021, following the team’s first-hand experience of oesophageal cancer within The Lanesborough team – Dean Timini, husband of Jo, Executive Head of Sales, and luggage porter Fernando, both passed from oesophageal cancer. Having witnessed the impact of the disease, the team has become passionate advocates for awareness, particularly around the dangers of ignoring persistent heartburn and reflux symptoms. Shay is taking on the marathon to continue this commitment and help ensure more people seek help earlier.
Read more about Shay’s fundraising for Heartburn Cancer UK here.
Andy Harris
For Andy Harris, this year’s marathon is a deeply personal tribute. Andy is running in memory of his dear friend, Mike Meech, who sadly passed away following a courageous battle with oesophageal cancer. Andy has spoken about wanting to honour Mike’s memory in a way that also helps others, turning loss into action by raising awareness and supporting earlier diagnosis so that more families have better outcomes in the future.
Read more about Andy’s HCUK fundraising here.
Ian Annis
Ian Annis brings a particularly powerful and rare perspective. Oesophageal cancer has affected multiple members of his family, including both parents and a brother, with another brother recently undergoing major surgery following early-stage disease linked to Barrett’s oesophagus. Ian himself was diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus seven years ago and now lives with ongoing monitoring following preventative treatment.
He describes his family’s experience as “feeling like a football score currently at 3–2,” reflecting the devastating impact the disease has had across generations. Despite this, Ian remains focused on raising awareness and encouraging others to seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen, emphasising the importance of early detection.
Read more about Ian’s story and fundraising here.
Thank You
We are incredibly grateful to all three runners for their commitment, honesty and determination. Taking on the London Marathon is a huge achievement in itself, but doing so to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer makes their efforts even more meaningful.
From everyone at Heartburn Cancer UK – thank you and good luck to all our runners this Sunday!
