1 May 2027
A month of marathons at Brooke
It’s been an inspiring month for marathon running at Brooke, with supporters raising more than £14,000 by running the London Marathon last weekend.
The London Marathon
Brooke supporters raised over £14,000 by running the London Marathon last weekend.
Five supporters took on the infamous marathon on 26 April 2026, with donations still trickling in, highlighting their commitment to supporting working animals worldwide.
Runners included Adam Blackmore-Heal, a photographer who just the week before completed the Windsor Ultra-Marathon, and Ben Portus, who marked his 10-year anniversary running for the charity this year.
Other runners were Charlotte Kitchen, a former Brooke intern who also ran the charity’s 10-kilometre challenge in 2025, and Izzy Hocking, Brooke’s former Global Animal Health Advisor.
Photo: Adam Blackmore-Heal ran this year's London Marathon for Brooke, taking on an ultra-marathon just the week before.
Racing across the world
MyWay Marathon in Kenya
Across the globe in Kenya, Brooke staff completed their own marathon at the same time as the London Marathon.
Stephen Kiprop, Franklin Ogwankwa, Paul Mnangat and James Kinyua took on the “MyWay Marathon” as runners tackled the London Marathon, with every mile supporting the working animals that power daily life across eastern Africa.
Supporting Brooke, says Stephen Kiprop, Brooke’s Digital Communications and Fundraising Assistant in East Africa, "is just one way to end the suffering of these animals”.
For Franklin Ogwankwa, a lead researcher at Brooke East Africa, MyWay Marathon is not just a personal challenge, but a way to highlight the real struggles of working animals.
“In the arid and semi-arid lands of East Africa, "marathon" distances are a daily reality not for sport, but for survival.” says Franklin.
“They (working animals) are the silent partners in our development, ferrying water over long distances, transporting goods to market and freeing women and children especially girls from hours of back-breaking labour.
“By supporting my run, you aren’t just helping an animal; you are protecting a family’s income, a woman’s time, and a child’s education.”
James Kinyua, Information and Communication Technology Officer at Brooke East Africa, says the challenge was “a tough one, but we are helping to give working animals a life worth living.
“We’re doing this for animals in Africa, but also globally.”
"Remember we are running for working equines [horses, donkeys and mules] who never get to stop."
Running in reverse
Kate's nighttime marathon
A special shout-out also to Kate Townsend, Brooke’s Internal Communications Manager, who ran the entire London Marathon route the night before the actual race began.
Kate ran the course in reverse, from the finish to start line, before joining Brooke supporters to cheer runners on as the race began that morning – an incredible show of dedication.
Kate said: "I run a trail marathon every month, so to raise money and awareness for Brooke I knew I had to do something different. What better than the London Marathon course in reverse, from Birdcage Walk to Blackheath.
"Every mile reflected, in a small way, the reality faced by working horses, donkeys and mules."
“I started at one minute past midnight while most sensible people are asleep, and finished at 5.30am while most sensible people are still asleep!
“For me, it wasn’t about records or novelty, but about pushing myself out of my comfort zone for the animals Brooke supports.
“Tiredness, hunger, thirst, the need to stop and rest. It was tough, strange and ever so slightly bonkers, but worth every step to help them. I am very proud to be Brooke."
This weekend was Kate’s 44th marathon.
Brooke’s UK team will also be preparing for a London 10-kilometre running challenge, this July.
"Moments like these remind us just how proud we are to be part of Brooke."
Zoe Francis, Senior Marketing and Product Development Officer at Brooke, said: “A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone involved, we can’t wait to do it all again next year!”
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