London Marathon 2026 roundup: fundraisers run up a big cheque for Jewish charities

Yoni Bartal (photo: Chai Cancer Care)[Missing Credit]

Chai’s other runners Jamie Davila, Miranda Shemen, and Noah Bezalel all took between four and five hours. Bezalel, whose father passed away from a rare salivary duct cancer in 2019, said that his family was “privileged to be able to be the recipients of the fantastic work they do, helping to support and guide families like ours through a situation that no family ever wishes to have to experience”.

Miranda Shemen keeps smiling through the race (photo: Chai Cancer Care)[Missing Credit]

Eleven runners – including one of last week’s JC Heroes, Tova Liebert – represented Jewish Care, raising more than £25,000 between them.

Gabriella Wilton, whose efforts contributed more than £3,500 of that total, was running in memory of her grandmother Norma, who was cared for “so compassionately” for five years at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House care home.

“It was a privilege to be able to combine my passion for running with raising money for such an incredible cause”, she said. “My grandma had so much love to give. I took her quick wit and humour with me to the finish line”.

Gabriella Wilton (photo: Jewish Care)[Missing Credit]

One of Camp Simcha’s three runners found himself 15 minutes of fame at the end of his race, as a video of him running the last kilometre helping another participant who was collapsing went viral on on Tiktok.

Yossi Shebson, who flew in from Israel for the run, finished in a superb four hours 04:30:46 despite  slowing down near the end. His efforts, combined with those of Elliot Cowan and Daniel Nachshon, raised more than £16,000 for the charity, which supports Jewish families with a seriously ill child.

[Missing Credit]Yossi Shebson (photo: Camp Simcha)

Seventeen runners turned out for Norwood, including husband-and-wife pair David and Esther Schloss, who ran in tandem to a time of 04:57:50, raising nearly £6,000 in the process.

They said: “Many people know Norwood for their incredible work providing residential care and supported living for people with disabilities. But what many don’t see are the quieter, behind-the-scenes services they provide to children and families across the community – life-changing therapy and support that could be helping your neighbour, a child at your school, or a family in your shul.”

David and Esther Schloss (photo: Norwood)[Missing Credit]

Nine runners for World Jewish Relief raised over £51,000 in sum. One runner, Ariella Novick, dedicated it to her great-grandmother, Sassy, who arrived in Britain alone at just 13 years old after losing her family in the Holocaust.

“I am running because her life – and therefore mine – is a direct result of World Jewish Relief’s actions”, she said. “She survived because World Jewish Relief and its partners stepped in when the world was closing its doors.”

Ariella Novick (photo: WJR)[Missing Credit]

Four participants ran for British Emunah, which helps vulnerable Israeli children and their families. They included Sammy Maimon, who dedicated his run to the memory of his close friend, Aryeh Ziering, who died defending Israel on October 7.

Sammy Maimon (photo: British Emunah)[Missing Credit]

Five turned out for Kisharon Langdon. One of them was James Green, who raised an extraordinary £25,000 for the charity which supports people with autism and learning disabilities. He completed the race in a similarly impressive time of 03:37:57.

The Jewish Deaf Association had one runner, 19-year-old Jake Zeffert, who clocked a time of 04:16:54. His mother and aunt are both part of the JDA team, and he said: “More people need to understand how isolating hearing loss is, and know that the most incredible support is out there thanks to JDA.”

Jake Zeffert (photo: JDA)[Missing Credit]

Three participants ran for Beit Halochem UK, aiding them with providing rehabilitation and support to Israel's war veterans and victims of terror, the number of whom has increased greatly since October 7. Among them was 63-year-old Peter Arbeid, who recorded an impressive time of 03:20:59, finishing in 79th place in the mass for his age category.

Both runners for Jewish Blind & Disabled smashed their fundraising targets, with Aidan McCarthy, their director of housing management & community services, and Marcus Jacobs, a supporter of the charity, outdoing their respective £2,000 and £5,000 goals.

Aidan McCarthy (photo: JBD)[Missing Credit]

Meanwhile, four runners flew in from South Africa to run for Malki UK, raising more than £8,000 between them to support the charity in providing vital therapies to ensure home care for special needs children in Israel. Josh Kaplan ran a standout time of 03:26:38.

Josh Kaplan (photo: Malki UK)[Missing Credit]

Alex Diamond ran for JLGB, describing the importance that the youth organisation has had on his life, being not only a staple of his youth but also that it was how his parents met. A quarter of the funds he raised also went to Chai, on account of their help to his family after his aunt’s passing from cancer in 2024.

For UJIA, Ellie Herman raised over £7,500 after seeing the impact the charity had on her cousin Zachary, who has severe special needs. “My motivation for running the marathon and raising much-needed funds for UJIA is seeing for myself, through Zachary, the difference inclusion makes,” she said on her fundraising page.

Ellie Herman (photo: UJIA)[Missing Credit]

Last, but certainly not least, four runners partook for Magen David Adom UK. One of them, Zac Barnett, finished the race with a time of exactly 04:00:00.

Click here to search for the finishing times of participants in the London Marathon.