London Marathon 2027

I’ve taken a stand against blood cancer.

Hi, I'm Declan, a 28 year-old accountant from Perth. In 2027 I'm running the London Marathon while pushing my twin brother Ewen in his wheelchair for the full 42.2km, and I'm aiming to raise $42,195 for the Leukaemia Foundation, $1 for every metre.

I'm no elite athlete. I've done a few half marathons and finished mid-pack, so this will be the hardest thing I've ever attempted. But it's nothing compared to what my mum, Ellen, has been through.

At 22, Mum was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. She had no idea she was sick. She was only being tested to see if she could donate bone marrow to her cousin. Just two years earlier, she had been the 1984 Australian U20 200m sprint champion. Her life went from sprints to a marathon overnight. She beat leukaemia twice, with chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants from her sisters. Then came two more cancers, in her jaw and her tongue, which led to major surgeries, including rebuilding her jaw with part of her leg bone. In 2018 a laryngectomy left her unable to speak. Now, four decades on from her first treatment, Mum is cancer-free and, despite not being able to speak, still very heard (trust me). Mum has never stopped living life. She never stops.

Mum and Dad couldn't wait to have kids, but Mum's treatment meant they needed IVF, with eggs donated by Ellen’s identical twin sister Ann. In 1998 they welcomed twins, Ewen and me. Ewen was born with severe cerebral palsy, and he's been at the centre of our family ever since. Having him beside me on race day feels exactly right.

Ewen and I will be joined on the day by Victoria, Liam and Sophie, who will all help us get over the line. They will be sharing their insight into their reason for running for the Leukaemia Foundation soon. 

Our story is far from unique. Right now, over 170,000 Australians are living with blood cancer, and 17 lose their life every single day. Behind each of those numbers is a family like ours, facing treatment, uncertainty and long journeys far from home.

Every dollar helps honour Mum and support Australians facing blood cancer, funding life-changing research and accommodation near hospitals for families doing it tough.

Any amount, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you for being part of our journey!