Team Autism Hampshire raises over £13,000 at the 2025 London marathon

13th May 2025

Six runners took to the streets of London this year for the 2025 London Marathon and between them they raised more than £13,000 for Autism Hampshire.

Each of the six runners has their own deeply personal reason for taking on this iconic challenge.

Michael ran in honour of his autistic son, Matthew ran for both his autistic children, Paramedic Ellis took on the marathon as a thank you to Autism Hampshire for the support he received after his own diagnosis, Alvaro ran for the many autistic people in his life, Jeremiah honoured his two autistic brothers, and Poppy ran to champion greater understanding and acceptance of autism.

Spotlight on Poppy

Driven by her work as a children’s speech and language therapist, Poppy ran to support the autistic young people she works with - and to give back to the local community she grew up in.

“Through this I've discovered a real passion for supporting autistic individuals and educating others about autism,” said Poppy. “I was already aware of some of the work Autism Hampshire do and really wanted to support this work as I know how impactful and important it is.

“I also am from Hampshire myself, so it was lovely to raise money for a charity that supports people within the community I grew up in.”

A day to remember

"Running a marathon is something I never would have had the confidence to do a few years ago, so I was very emotional but so happy. If there was a way to bottle that feeling, I absolutely would!" said Poppy.

“The best moments were when I saw my family or friends who had come to cheer me on; they gave me such a boost every time.”

She trained through the winter months, often running through parts of the marathon route in London, and found a rhythm that worked for her life.

Her advice to anyone thinking of signing up?

“I absolutely recommend anyone who has the opportunity to take on something like the London Marathon should do it.

“Don’t be afraid to use all your networks to fundraise - work, friends, family, clubs, social media - it all adds up! My biggest tip would be to find a training plan that works for you and your life so that you can stay consistent with it.”

Inspired to run the 2026 London Marathon for Autism Hampshire?

We have a limited number of guaranteed charity places for the 2026 TCS London Marathon, and we’re looking for passionate people to join our team.

By running for Autism Hampshire, you’ll help fund vital services including our inclusive Serendipity social groups for autistic adults, which reduce loneliness and promote community connection.

To apply, complete the application form here. The deadline for first-round applications is 30 June 2025.

For questions or more information, please email fundraising@autismhampshire.org.uk.