'Running the marathon as Optimus Prime will be difficult but it won't stop me'

Every year, thousands of people run the London Marathon for many different reasons.

Some do it to honour loved ones; some to raise funds for charities, and others to break personal and world records.

Some even do it in costume.

But what has motivated some of this year's runners from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire to put on their running shoes and take on the 26.2-mile challenge?

Matt Batchelor is a child of the 1980s who does not get easily embarrassed, so has decided to run this year dressed as Optimus Prime from Transformers.

The 40-year-old, from Milton Keynes, is hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Marathon Dressed as a 3D Toy and, after a bit of creative sewing from his friend Jo, is now ready.

He also wants to raise awareness and money for Thrombosis UK after experiencing a severe deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in April 2024.

He had to have a blood clot removed from his leg but was determined to keep on moving.

Batchelor has continued to run, saying it was important to his recovery.

"I thought I would never run again, but I want to inspire others," he says.

But he admits the costume itself is a real challenge, meaning he has had to adapt his running style to keep his legs wider apart, will effectively have blinkers on and will not be able to move his arms.

He says it will be difficult, but that will not stop him.

"The DVT pain was worse, this is nothing compared to that," he adds.

Just a few years ago, Kim Christon, also from Milton Keynes, was left unable to talk after gruelling chemotherapy for breast cancer, aged 34.

Determined to build up her strength, the mother of two boys, who had previously run cross-country, started running again.

After having her second child, she completed the Couch to 5k programme. Now aged 37, this will be her first marathon.

"I've only ever entered a Parkrun once. I just used to go out and run, and the furthest I'd ever gone was 10k," she says.

"I had always watched the marathon on the TV as a child. It's emotional watching.

"I feel like I've come full circle in my journey, from the time I couldn't even walk. I'm a positive person and I want to share a positive story."

Having cancer, she says, puts everything into perspective and she wants people to "be grateful for the life you have – time is precious".

She is now in remission but needs to take medication daily to prevent the cancer returning, so is raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

"I want to show other people you can have cancer and you can come back stronger than you have ever been, both mentally and physically," she says.

She is aiming for a time of between five and six hours but says "I'm going for the vibes and to have a good time.

"I'm just going to enjoy it and take it all in."

Brothers Chris and Gareth Hopkins, from Hertfordshire, are running in honour of their beloved grandmother, Tricia Petts, who died in January 2025, and to raise funds for Age UK.

They are not what you would call typical runners.

Chris, 40, from Whitwell, is head groundsman at Stevenage FC and until last year, had never run a marathon.

"I only ever played football from the age of six. I didn't like a lot of long-distance running," he says.

He says he wanted to do something in his grandmother's honour.

"I have watched marathons on and off for years and I thought 'I like the idea of doing it', but then I had a reason to do it."

Last year he finished the race in a time of four hours and 16 minutes but had targeted under four hours, so will be attempting to beat that time on Sunday.

"I feel like I have unfinished business," he says.

Gareth, 43, a paramedic, from Hoddesdon, only started running last August.

"I've never done any exercise for five years. I don't go to the gym; I'm not a runner," he says.

"I watched Chris do it last year... and I thought 'I can probably do that.'"

But he admits when he started Couch to 5k, "I couldn't run for two minutes".

Since then, he has lost a stone in weight and can now run several miles – and his hip problems have improved.

He does not think he will be as fast as his brother but is determined, and despite experiencing pain in his shins, says he will finish "regardless".

When Aaliyah Jalil, 24, a student from Luton, started university, her health "deteriorated" and she did not think she "was capable of anything".

"Then, over the past couple of years, I've become a much healthier version of myself. I'm so much happier and I'm excelling," she says.

Taking up running nearly a year ago has helped, she says, and she has even joined her university track team.

That has prompted her to run in Sunday's race in aid of mental health charity, Mind.

"I always like taking on a challenge and I know the London Marathon is definitely one of the biggest challenges and I thought 'Let me take it on while running for a good cause and in memory of my friend.'

"I realised the importance of mental health, although it can be hard talking about it, but once you do start it helps a lot."

A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues in this story is available at BBC Action Line.

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