Tessa Rusden

London Marathon 2025

Running the London Marathon in Memory of Mike

On the 5th July 2023 we both received a phone call from our dad who told us that Mike, my sister's partner, had had an asthma attack and had very sadly died.  

Even writing this now, we can still feel the shockwaves that hit our sister, their little boy and our whole wider family with this very sudden and traumatic event. No one could prepare Bex and Remy for the impact this unexpected loss had - Mike was a young, healthy American living here in the UK with the rest of his life ahead of him. He was charismatic, funny, witty, intelligent and a wonderful daddy to their little boy Remy. He would have turned 40 this year and is so very missed by everyone who knew him.  

Amidst this tragedy came a wonderful and wide community of family and friends (both in the UK and US), who have supported Bex and Remy these past 18 months. We are so grateful to you all and now ask for some further help. 

As we continue to learn to navigate life without Mike, we have decided to run the London Marathon to raise vital funds for Asthma + Lung UK. The charity's mission is to fight for everyone’s right to breathe and more often than not, people don't realise the daily difficulties and danger that asthma sufferers live with. So we are doing this for you Mike, and everyone else impacted by asthma and lung conditions. 

 

About Me 

Deciding to apply to run the London Marathon was a very emotive decision I took when heavily pregnant with my third child. I picked up the phone to my brother to triple check I wasn't going mad and by coincidence, he also had the same idea. We decided to apply together and tell Asthma + Lung UK about our, Bex and Remy's story. Three months later they graciously offered us both a place by which time I had just given birth to my little girl, Octavia ❤️ 

I historically hate running and hadn't run more than 5k before I started training for this. Having had two of my three children close together also means I’m definitely not as fit as I have been in previous years. So to say it's going to be a challenge is an understatement 😂🏃

HOWEVER people who know me know I am incredibly persistent and do not give up easily. I have been so surprised at how much I have already enjoyed the training and the small wins each run has given me. I am insanely determined about doing this and completing the gruelling 26.2 miles, which I know Mike would believe I am fully capable of doing. He was a massive advocate for mind over matter and I know he's looking down on Jonners and me as we train for this crazy challenge! 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts in advance; we massively appreciate anything you can donate to either of our pages.  

Thank you so much, 

Tess & Jonners 

My Achievements

Thank you to my Sponsors

£100

Rebecca Annable

Beyond proud of you and he would be prouder! Love you

£15.75

Charley Corbett

£50

Anonymous

Go go go. Good luck x

£50

Beth Sawyer

Super proud of you Tess. Can’t wait to cheer you on on the day. You’ve got this!! 💪🏻💪🏻 xx

£10.50

Bells Harvey

Good luck!

£23.10

Emily Field

Good luck and have fun! Xx

£15.75

Annalisa Gioia Exon

Good luck with your run

£21

Lucy, Sam, Immy & Jasmine

Wishing you all the best, go smash it xxx

£10.50

Alex Newte Hardie

You’re doing a wonderful thing - go you!

£15.75

Davena Allanson

Wow Tessa - how incredible! Best of luck, and enjoy the day! Davena, Will & Mia x

£15

Hayley Javeleau

Good luck Tessa, try and soak it all in as much as possible! We’ll do anything as mums to get a break from parenting….

£10.50

Anonymous

Great work

£21

Lucinda Heath

Well done! Hope it isn’t too painful…

£15.75

Sarah Morley

You're an inspiration & you'll totally smash it! Best of luck & look forward to celebrating with a glass of fizz when you've finished! So much love Sez, James & Jax xxxxx

£15.75

Polly

I applaud your efforts for an exceedingly worthy cause. Best of luck to you (I struggle to run for the bus so need to take a leaf out of your book!). Xx

£42

Matt Easton

£100

Mangy

Good luck. I am sure you will do it, how I don’t know with your 3 little ones to look after. I am amazed

£63

John And Jill Scott

£23.10

John And Jill Scott

£63

Warren Blumire

Go Bunny xx

£10

Anonymous

£100

Will, Rhi, Alys, Henri And Mari

Best of luck Tessa - amazing work!

£31.50

Jess, Chris & Chloe

You got this Tess! SO proud of you, we are all behind you <3 X

£15.75

Lisa Chapman

Incredible ❤️😘❤️

£15.75

Sheelagh

Super proud of you Tessa and such a lovely tribute to Mike

£52.50

Jo Wickham

Tessa you are in fact amazing even if you don’t believe it, I am so proud of you and your journey. Thanks for being my hand holding friend love you ❤️❤️❤️

£23.10

Richard Sadd

£22

Geoff

Best of luck!

£52.50

Gordon Tempest-hay

£15.75

Lucy Millar

Good luck Tessa!! Xx

£42

Dan, Sophie And Remy

£23.10

Harriett Osborne

You’re an absolute superstar and inspiration to all of us! Run, Tessa, run!! Xx

£23.10

Lewis Wilks

£23.10

Eddie Keough

£21

Paola Nicolaides

£15

Maddie Alex And Alf Xx

So proud of you x

£21

Katie O’lone

You’re smashing it, unbelievable effort! Xxxx

£20

Karen, Dan And Hollie X

Well done you. Keep going!! X

£100

Clive & Saron

What a great role model you are to your 3 cubs. So very proud of what you are doing xx

£23.10

Catherine, Mark And Grace Xx

Go Tessa!!

£100

Meg Annable

What an incredible challenge you have taken on for a cause so close to our hearts. You are doing amazing and will absolutely smash it on the big day. Every time the running gets tough just remember how proud we all are of you and in particular how proud Mike would be xx

£40

Amber Lamari

you will do amazing xxx

£20

Alice, Greg, Millie And Izzy

You’re absolutely smashing this!! xx

£50

Sacha And Jason

So proud of you! Smashing your training! You’re going to do amazing on the day and for such a great cause. Mike would be so proud xxx

£52.50

Carla, John, Esme & Jos

So inspiring seeing you train incredibly hard in memory of Mike. You are amazing! See you at the finish line!

£50

Aimee, Nick, Ella And Edie

You’ve totally got this!! We are so proud of you! Xx

£78.75

Martin Annable

Mike would be proud of you both!

£42

Lucy Godding

Go Bridget! Honk honk xx

£52.50

Tom Gatzen

Good luck to you both- you will smash it!

£23.10

Hollie Hart

You have totally go this. Let the January training block commence - you can do it 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

£31.50

Bianca Cox

Amazing Tessa - wishing you so much luck, lots of love xx

£52.50

Soph X

You amaze me! Will be there to cheer you on Bridge xx

£15

Carla Goodman

Good luck! X

£50

Chloe, Ben, Otis And D

Wow super mama! I’m so impressed you’re doing this! I’m so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law, that’s so tragic and so sad. Sending you lots of love!

£23.10

Sarah Harman

Best of luck Tessa and Jonners!! X

£31.50

Sophia Boudjemaa

Amazing work and an amazing cause Tessa! Rooting for you 🥰

£15

Jess Chapman

What you’re doing is amazing, wishing you the best of luck x

£105

Georgie Tremaine

Go on Bunny and Jonners! Run like the wind. Love Remy’s girlfriend (and George and Ant x)

£31.50

Laura Robertson

So proud of you Tess 😘

£100

Claire Annable

So proud if you and Jonners. You will smash it. Xx

£23.10

Vicki

You’re amazing! I know you’ll do him proud x

^