“Every step has a reason”- Running the London Marathon for Whizz Kidz

Hannah Martin has always been a runner.

“I’ve always run. I love how it keeps my body feeling good and gives my brain some much-needed freedom.” Running is where she finds space - space to think, to breathe, to reset. She’s completed several half marathons, fuelled by that feeling of forward motion.

But this year, Hannah is stepping into unknown territory.

“I wanted a new challenge - and being in my mid-40s, it felt very much like now or never.”

In April, Hannah will take on the London Marathon for the first time, running in support of Whizz Kidz, a charity that doesn’t just matter to her, but has already changed her family’s life.

A mother, a runner and a reason

Hannah’s motivation is deeply personal.

“My daughter Stella is eight years old. She’s hilarious, witty, slightly chaotic, obsessed with history, loves Disney princesses, and has enough energy to power a small city.”

Stella was born with cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia which mainly affects her lower body. “She can’t walk independently and uses a wheelchair.”

When Stella was three, the family received her first NHS wheelchair. “We were incredibly grateful,” Hannah says. But gratitude didn’t erase the limitations.

“It only copes with smooth paths. So, no muddy walks, no woods, no beaches.”
“It’s also heavy and difficult for Stella to self-propel, which limits her independence.”

That’s where Whizz Kidz came in.

“We applied to Whizz Kidz for a charity-funded wheelchair and they said yes.”
“That one word changed everything.”

Why Whizz Kidz matters

For Hannah, Whizz Kidz’ mission -  giving independence to young wheelchair users - isn’t a slogan. It’s lived experience.

“A high-quality wheelchair, designed specifically for Stella, that supports her properly and gives her real independence is genuinely life-changing.”

Stella uses her wheelchair for hours every day. “It’s how she gets from A to B, how she joins in, how she experiences the world.”

“There’s a huge difference between ‘this will do - someone will push you’ and ‘this is yours - and you can go where you want, when you want.’”

“Independence isn’t a nice extra. It’s freedom, confidence, dignity - and Whizz Kidz give that to children.”

Once Hannah had committed to running for Whizz Kidz, the charity made a devastating announcement: for the first time ever, they were closing their waiting list.

“That was heartbreaking to hear,” she says. “But it also confirmed that I was running for exactly the right people, at exactly the right time.”

The call that changed the training

In January, Hannah received a phone call she’ll never forget.

“We got a call from Whizz Kidz saying they had an appointment available at the end of the month.”

Stella would be fitted for her new wheelchair and if everything went well, “she’d receive it at the end of April.”

“It felt like magic.”

During the appointment, Stella was measured and assessed for her new wheelchair - one that fits her body, her needs, and her huge personality. The clinic team listened carefully, talked them through options, and made Stella feel excited about the freedom ahead.

Hannah recalls how uplifting it was to watch her daughter be treated not just as a patient, but as a growing, adventurous young person whose independence truly matters. It made the marathon feel more meaningful than ever.

And the best part? If everything stays on track, Stella should receive her new chair just after the marathon - a perfect celebration of everything Hannah has been running for.

As Hannah put it:

“Suddenly, those cold, dark, damp January runs had a very clear purpose. Every step had a reason.”

Training for the unknown

This will be Hannah’s first marathon.

“I’ve done lots of half marathons, but I’ve never gone this far before. There’s no hiding from that fact.”

Physically, she’s following the plan. “So far, so good.”

Mentally? “It feels like I think about the marathon all the time.” Even her phone has noticed. “My Instagram seems to have noticed too, as it’s now exclusively marathon content.”

The hardest moments have come off the course.

“Getting a bad cold in December and knowing I shouldn’t run - but really, really wanting to.”

And then there was the decision that made her friends laugh the most.

“Turning down a big birthday celebration at the end of March with all my best friends because it felt too risky that close to race day.”

“They all find this absolutely hilarious, as I’m normally the last person to say no.”

Carrot cakes and kindness

Fundraising has taken Hannah in unexpected directions.

“Bake sale after bake sale after bake sale.”
“I can now whip up five carrot cakes in under an hour - a skill I never expected to acquire, but here we are.”

What’s stayed with her most isn’t the baking - it’s people.

“People’s generosity. I’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by how kind people have been - often giving far more than the price of a cupcake.”
“It’s been incredibly humbling.”

Her goals for marathon day are simple and huge.

For the children still waiting

Hannah hopes that children waiting for mobility equipment see something in her run.

“That people care. That they are seen. And that they deserve more.”

And if she could speak directly to those still on the Whizz Kidz waiting list, she knows exactly what she’d say:

“Hang on in there.”
“We waited two years and now Stella is about to get her new chair, and it’s going to be awesome.”

Through every mile of the London Marathon, Hannah will be carrying more than nerves and adrenaline. She’ll be running for independence, for dignity and for children like Stella - who deserve the freedom to go where they want, when they want.