2025's iconic TCS London Marathon proved a record breaker in more ways than one, especially for Kidney Care UK’s record number of 137 runners who pounded the capital’s streets to raise an incredible £425,000.

We spoke with three amazing runners’ about their experiences with kidney disease and what motivated them to embark on such a tough challenge and raise money for Kidney Care UK.

If you feel inspired to take on a challenge for Kidney Care UK (this doesn't have to be a marathon!) head to our get involved page to find out more.

Kaitlin (Katie) Siddiq’s inspiration to run is her dad, Stephen, who is on dialysis. Katie, who lives with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) wanted to make her dad proud and also prove to herself that she could do it, as well as raise vital funds for Kidney Care UK.

"While I'm still fit and healthy, I wanted to do something that really pushes me and challenges my body, so that if I am poorly in a couple of years' time and going through PKD health complications, I can look back and think, 'oh, I did that; it was amazing'.

"I started running in January last year and couldn't run more than a couple of kilometres before getting fully breathless. So, I started to build it up. Then, in April, I spent a week in hospital, where I was a reasonably well person, surrounded by people who were very unwell, and that was the catalyst for me. I feel so appreciative of what I have, and in that moment, I thought, ‘I'm going to sign up and run a half marathon.’ I did that in August last year, and when the ballot came out for London, I applied.

"My friends got me a little charm on a bracelet that I had with me. I also had my nails painted in the Kidney Care UK colours! And I had little charms on my shoes from my partner Alan that said, 'Love you to the moon and back.' These were my grounding points when things got tough."

Katie finished in 5 hours 18 minutes and raised over £7,000 for Kidney Care UK!

Adie Doe was inspired to run because of his sister, Lynn, who has received two transplants – the first from their mum and the second from Adie, via the paired/pooled donation scheme, where Adie was an altruistic donor.

Adie started running four years ago after his sister’s transplant, using Kidney Care UK’s London and Cambridge landmark runs.

"My sister is a hero because she’s put up with two kidney failures and had two donated kidneys. Kidney Care UK offered me the London Marathon because somebody had dropped out. My mouth works a lot quicker than my brain, so I found myself saying, 'of course I will!'

"My wife put up with a lot as I was tired, grumpy and hungry all the time but at the start line, all that disappeared! Everybody told me what a special atmosphere it is, and when people say, ‘Oh, that last six miles, the crowd will carry you,’ you think that's impossible. But the atmosphere was amazing and the magnificent crowd kept us going, as well as seeing family members along the route.

"I had about 16 or 17 people there, spaced out across the second half of the course. I had a good, sweaty hug with each one of them!"

Adie finished in 6 hours 16 minutes and raised an incredible £10,250 for Kidney Care UK!

Jamie and Wes decided to run the marathon for their two-year-old son, Beau, who was just a year old when he was diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) – a rare kidney condition. Beau underwent surgery to prepare for peritoneal dialysis, which he had for around 10 days, to kick start his kidneys again.

"Since he was discharged in September 2023, his kidneys have got better. He’s come off a lot of his medication, and he's also been diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease. Some of the medication he’s on is for protein and blood in his urine, which I think is very normal and common, but now it’s about preventing any more damage. But he knows no different. He’s a bull in a china shop now!

"The training was gruelling and tough too, because we were both doing it, and had to get the kids looked after while we were out on run. So, we ended up doing a lot of training individually and then together on a few of the longer runs.

"I am proud of myself, and I don't say that very often. It was a lot harder than I thought!"

Jamie finished in 5 hours 7 minutes and Wes finished in 4 hours 13 minutes. Together they raised an extraordinary £15,300 for Kidney Care UK!

These experieces were first featured in Kidney Matters issue 29.