08 May London Marathon runners raise over £10,000 for Mercy Ships
Sam Watkins from Helikon Shipping Enterprises and James Cameron Taylor from Macura took on the epic London Marathon on Sunday 26th April. Between them, the pair have raised over £10,000 for our work in sub-Saharan Africa, and we couldn’t be more thankful for their support.
First, let’s hear from Sam:
“I’m still buzzing from Sunday! On Monday, my legs were rendered pretty much useless, but today they’re on the mend a little.
“I chose to run for Mercy Ships because of the way they use the maritime world to bring care directly to people who simply don’t have access to the life-changing medical care they need to survive.”
“Having always felt a connection to the sea, I really admire how Mercy Ships transforms ships into floating hospitals, reaching communities where delivering aid isn’t always straightforward. The idea that something as fundamental as safe surgery isn’t available to so many, and that Mercy Ships is able to bring that care directly to them, really stayed with me. It felt like a cause where the impact is immediate and profound, and one I really wanted to support.”
“This was my first marathon, and going into it, I genuinely didn’t know what to expect. At the finish line, I was pretty convinced it would also be my last… but funnily enough, with each hour that passes, I can feel the competitive itch creeping in and the idea of going back for a faster time is getting harder to ignore.”
“One of the biggest highlights of the day was the atmosphere. The energy of so many people coming together – all with different stories, training journeys, and causes they care about – was incredible. What really surprised me though, was how much of a boost the banners and signs gave along the route. By the end it felt like I’d run a marathon and completed a reading marathon at the same time – spotting all the messages became one of my favourite parts of the day.”
“Crossing the finish line was an amazing feeling – a real mix of relief, pride, and slight disbelief.”
And thoughts from James:
“I can mirror a lot of Sam’s feelings here, especially that creeping competitive nature.”
“I chose to run for Mercy Ships after meeting staff members at several events and being immensely impressed by the work Mercy Ships does and the incredible outcomes of their efforts.”
“The London Marathon was my first marathon and most likely the last! I really enjoyed the discipline of training – it was a great experience and I’m proud of how I dealt with a number of obstacles.”
“Probably the biggest highlights of the day were the energy of the crowd and the feeling between fellow runners. Plus crossing the finish line, which was a total relief and enjoying my first sip of beer since Christmas!”
Sam and James, thank you for your incredible effort and support that will bring life-changing surgery to women, men and children across sub-Saharan Africa.
Find out how you can get involved and make a difference with Mercy Ships (no running required!)