Alex Clifton

London Marathon 2025

Baby's First Marathon

Hi. I'm Alex, and I'll be running the 2025 London Marathon to raise money for Asthma and Lung UK in memory of my mum.

My mum (Susan Frances Atkins) was the most incredible person I've ever known. She had a lifetime full of adventures but sadly lost a very hard fight to lung cancer in 2022. I don't always have the words to describe her, but in short she was charming, clever, kind, and had friends across the world. I miss her every single day.

Please help me in my journey to raise £2000 to help fund research for conditions such as lung cancer, asthma, COPD, and many others; every little helps. I do have a couple incentives to get folks to donate, so keep an eye out for those. I’ll update this profile with my training journey as well as other thoughts. I’m excited; hope you are too!

My Achievements

My Updates

Less than three months to go!

Thursday 6th Feb
Hi gang!

I know I've not provided lots of updates so far (whoops) but wanted to say an absolutely massive THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far. I'm at nearly 80% of my goal which is insane to think about! I've never done any kind of fundraising like this before and it's been overwhelming to see the amount of support I have from family and friends. Running a marathon is the craziest thing I've ever decided to do, but it helps to raise money for a great cause. I hope to make you all proud on race day :)

Also huge thanks to everyone who's added songs to the Marathon Bangers playlist. It's definitely going to make race day interesting and fun. You can see what's been added here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qsRXLa7ghahTjM8z3FEyS?si=20c2581cc5ef4057

Training so far has been going okay. Last month was weirdly icy in Louisville after a snowstorm and thick layer of ice, but now that's all melted away which is a huge relief. I'm trying to get my 10,000 steps a day (whether walking or running) and Jamie got me a walking pad for Xmas so when it's really nasty outside, I don't have to trek through rain.

I'll keep you posted with any updates since we're getting so much closer to actual race day now -- woo-hoo!

Incentives!

Sunday 2nd Jun
To try to garner more donations I’m offering the following incentives:

- For £5 you can get a song on my running playlist! Do you have a song that really pumps you up? Do you have any meme songs that you want to ensure I listen to throughout my training? Maybe you want me to listen to “Never Gonna Give You Up” five times in a session. Let me know and I’ll add them to my playlist. For £20 you get five picks for the price of four. (Caveat: songs must be downloadable, I probably won’t be running with YouTube on in the background.)

- For £25 you can pick what book I read next! Maybe you have a book you’ve told me to read for years and I’ve said “I’ll get around to it” but haven’t. Maybe you have a favourite 150k word fanfiction you think I would dig. Maybe you want to force me to read a terrible book for fun. I’ll do it and report back to you. 

More incentives coming in the near future, so keep checking back here!

Thank you to my Sponsors

£30

Wendy Palazzo

Incredible endeavor! Special to me as well with our similar stories re: our mothers and running for them :)

£31.50

Alex Clifton

Includes donation from Rachael Tschari!

£44.10

Dj Brxi

kick ass dude ilu

£42

Eleanor Schulz

£15.75

Sarah Pigott

Hope you have a great run, Alex! :)

£5.25

Anonymous

Good luck!

£23.10

Peter Williams

I’m happy to donate to your endeavor in memory of Susan. She was wonderfully clever and engaging. I enjoyed every conversation I ever had with her.

£100

Monisha Bhayana

Wishing you the best of luck!! You’ve got this!

£26.25

Kate Dupin

Donating in memory of my mom who had COPD Songs: Don't Stop Me Now - Queen I might run from you - Tawnted This is Me - Greatest Showman Soundtrack Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa) - Jagwar Twin Or Good Time - Jagwar Twin

£21

Maura Ruyechan

You're gonna do great!!! Songs: Tubthumping by Chumbawumba, Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano, Hold the Girl by Rina Sawayama, His Brightest Star Was You by Two Steps from Hell, Wannabe by The Spice Girls

£23.10

Becky Robison

YOU ARE SO STRONG YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!!!

£22

Tabitha And Tim Jackson

£23.10

Josh Headrick

£21

Alesha Barvincak

£26.25

Shannon Doll

£23.10

Whitney Yadon

£25

Em Nordling

Love you Alex! I'll be cheering you on from ATL <3

£25

Brynn Stylinski

Alex! Good luck! You will do awesome. I am going to suggest putting Timber on your playlist and reading Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center.

£52.50

Glyn Strong

£52.50

Marcella & Aaron

Alex!!!! London Marathon?!!! You’re an amazing badass and we’re so proud of you! We see your dedication and perseverance - and this is a lovely way to honor your mum. Susan would be proud 🥹

£40

Tobin Williamson

Good luck!

£50

Ann & Ged Xx

In memory of my lovely cousin, Sue. Good luck Alex xx

£100

Auntie Bern & Uncle Tel

Can't wait to see you at the finish line Alex. So proud of you xx

£413

Andrew Clifton

£26.25

Matt “cyn” Ziemba

You got this 💪

£5.25

Maura Ruyechan

YOU GO ALEX!!!! Song suggestion would be Rina Sawayama's Hold the Girl

£42

Heather Woodville

£36.75

Julie Avery

Best wishes for successful training and an amazing race, Alex!

£25

Megan Hartline

Get it girl!!

£84

Marie Coignet

You've got this !!

£23.10

Japa Buckner

£50

Helen Pemberton

£5.25

Bb

£100

Alex Clifton

^