Harley Richards

I’m running the London Marathon 2027 for Team Breathe 💜

🏃‍♂️I'm taking on the 2027 London Marathon in support of Asthma + Lung UK, and in honour of my best friend, Ewan. 💜 

For more than three years, Ewan lived with a persistent cough. Then, in December 2025, everything changed. After coughing up blood, he was rushed to hospital, where a series of tests and scans revealed a cancerous tumour on his right lung.

In April 2026, Ewan underwent major surgery to remove the tumour. What was initially planned as a keyhole procedure became a far more complex operation. Surgeons had to open his chest and remove both the lower and middle lobes of his right lung, along with two enlarged lymph nodes.

His life has changed forever.

Every day now involves adapting to a new reality and learning how to live with significantly reduced lung capacity. Despite everything he has been through, his determination and resilience continue to inspire everyone around him.

The cruel irony is that Ewan had secured a ballot place for the 2026 London Marathon before his diagnosis. Due to his treatment and recovery, his place has been deferred until 2027. Just six days after surgery, he watched the 2026 London Marathon from his sofa while recovering from an operation that would change his life forever.

Back in 2022, we ran our first London Marathon together. In 2027, we'll walk to the start line together once again.

That is why I have chosen to run for Asthma + Lung UK.

Lung conditions are the UK's third biggest killer, and 1 in 5 people in the UK will develop a lung condition during their lifetime. Behind those statistics are real people, real families and stories just like Ewan's.

I am running this marathon to show my support, admiration and love for one of the strongest people I know. Through this challenge, I also hope to raise vital funds for Asthma + Lung UK, helping them continue their work funding life-changing research, improving diagnosis and treatment, and supporting millions of people affected by lung conditions across the UK.

If Ewan's story has touched you, I would be incredibly grateful for your support. Every donation, no matter the amount, will make a difference.

Together, let's show Ewan how many people are behind him.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and thank you for any support you can give. 💜