The Royal Berks Charity is delighted to reveal that Andrew Haydon, a dedicated nurse at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, has been awarded the charity’s London Marathon 2026 ballot place.
Born within the very walls of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Andrew’s life has come full circle. Today, he walks its corridors not as a patient, but as a nurse—part of the lifeblood of a hospital that has shaped his personal and professional world. When Andrew saw his own face featured on a Royal Berks Charity poster encouraging runners to apply for the London Marathon place, something clicked.
“It felt like a sign,” he said. “The poster made me stop in my tracks—quite literally. I’ve never run a marathon, but I knew in that moment that this one was meant for me.”
Now, as he prepares to take on one of the world’s most iconic races, Andrew is doing it with more than just finish lines in mind. He’s running in support of two departments that hold deep personal meaning—the Berkshire Cancer Centre and the Children’s and Young Persons Diabetes Clinic.
- The Berkshire Cancer Centre is a department incredibly close to his heart, as Andrew’s wife continues her courageous journey through cancer. Running in her honour, he hopes to give back to the department that has been a lifeline for their family.
- The Children’s and Young Persons Diabetes Clinic supported his daughter when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Their care and compassion inspired Andrew to turn his gratitude into action.
His passion to make a difference has sparked an ambitious and heartfelt fundraising campaign, reaching beyond just one man’s marathon and into the wider community.
Andrew is planning a packed calendar of events leading up to race day, including:
- 🎟️ A community raffle with brilliant prizes from generous local businesses
- 🧁 Bake sales, themed dress-up days, and fun challenges across hospital departments
- 📲 A powerful social media campaign that will spotlight the stories, faces, and motivations behind his run
This run isn’t just for my family—it’s for every patient I’ve ever cared for, for every colleague who’s shown unwavering compassion, and for every department that holds someone’s story. I’ll be carrying the charity’s name on my bib, and their strength in every step.
Andrew’s journey to the London Marathon isn’t just about endurance—it’s about emotion, gratitude, and the desire to give back.
As the official Royal Berks Charity runner, Andrew is already galvanising support across the hospital and local community, and we couldn’t be prouder to have him represent us at the TCS London Marathon 2026.
Join us as we rally behind Andrew, help us support his incredible fundraising mission, and turn his 26.2 miles into thousands of pounds raised for life-changing care.
Want to support Andrew? Here’s how:
- Donate to Andrew’s fundraising page https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/andrew-haydon
- Follow his journey on social media at @RoyalBerksCharity
- Support local events leading up to the marathon
- Share his story and help us spread the word
