Sarah Mortlock’s journey to the 2025 TCS London Marathon began as a light-hearted gesture.
“I'm not a natural runner,” she says. “I entered the ballot for the 2024 TCS London Marathon – kind of as a bit of a joke.
“My eldest son, and a few other friends also entered, but somehow I was the only one who got a place, and I thought, ‘Are you kidding?’”
Sarah’s original goal was to support her friend Rachael Bassett, who is the Fundraising Manager at Kids Inspire – a children’s mental health charity that offers free trauma support to families who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
“I’ve attended [Kids Inspire] events over the years and often found myself in tears after hearing about the incredible support they provide,” says Sarah. Her motivation was deeply personal: “The thought of my own children, or my nieces and nephews, going through trauma… without help is heartbreaking.”
A mother of three and a passionate West Ham fan, Sarah had long admired Kids Inspire. Growing up in Barking, east London, she discovered her competitive spirit at school, putting her hand up to take part in school sports, so when she secured the marathon place, she was eager to start training for the challenge.
Unfortunately, a fractured metatarsal during training, and concerns about reinjury, forced Sarah to make the difficult decision to defer her 2024 TCS London Marathon place until the 2025 event.
When she was able to train again, it wasn’t easy. “I definitely think it could have gone better!” she says. “I didn’t train in the rain because I didn’t want to fall over. I was so mindful of not injuring myself and staying healthy, so I could actually complete it.
“When you sign up, you’re given lots of information and advice. I received emails from the TCS London Marathon, and my daughter helped too, as she’s an athlete.”
On Marathon Day, Sarah was filled with emotion. “In the morning, I actually felt really excited and quite emotional,” she recalls. A chance encounter on the train with two fellow participants – one taking part for a limb-loss charity and the other for Pancreatic Cancer UK, the 2025 TCS London Marathon Charity of the Year – deepened her sense of purpose. “Sitting and hearing their stories only heightened the emotion.”
Despite a near-fall at Greenwich station before the event had even started, Sarah’s nerves soon turned to excitement. “Leaving my stuff at the bag drop was the moment it really started to feel very real,” she says. She reconnected with Ross, the limb-loss fundraiser, and was inspired to learn he was an amputee himself.
The marathon itself was unforgettable, Sarah says. “The highs were the crowds – complete strangers shouting, ‘Come on Sarah!’” With her name on both sides of her shirt, DJs and supporters cheered her on. “I think I cried the whole way around!”
Sarah also fondly recalls the community spirit: “There were kids who made ‘Power up’… boards, which you tapped with your hand to give you more energy.” And, of course, “Haribo made a fortune that day from all the sweets people gave out.”
Despite initial worries about fundraising, Sarah raised more than £4,000 for Kids Inspire. “I didn’t broadcast it until about a month before,” she says, fearing injury could derail her marathon journey once again.
Encouraged by Rachael, she shared her Enthuse online fundraising page and was amazed by the response. “Someone I went to secondary school with sponsored me – and I haven’t seen them in 40 years!”
To others considering a charity challenge, Sarah says: “When I started, I hated running – but now I understand it. It’s a good thing to do for yourself as well as for the cause you’re supporting.”