Celebrities were among roughly 20,000 runners who helped raise more than £18 million for good causes at the ninth running of the London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 12. Over 500 charities benefited from the event, bringing the cumulative fundraising total since the first race in 2018 to £85 million.

Competitors set off from an area near Downing Street and completed the 13.1-mile route past 16 iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, the Shard, the Tower of London, and the Gherkin, finishing at Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.

This year’s event featured the return of the Tommy’s Pink Wave, a dedicated group raising awareness and funds for Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby loss charity that organises the race and supports families affected by pregnancy or infant loss.

One notable entry came from Lisa Hale from Drayton in Oxfordshire, who wore an ovary costume while attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon dressed as a female anatomical feature.

BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley took part for the first time, saying she had long wanted to participate in this particular event and that it had become very meaningful to her. She noted that everyone had their own reasons for running, whether for a particular person, a worthy cause, or themselves. She described the atmosphere as wonderful, with people showing great enthusiasm, and said it had felt like one of the most enjoyable races to take part in.

Singer Alexandra Burke returned for her second straight year, describing it as fantastic and truly wonderful, with tremendous support from Londoners. She said they felt privileged to be representing Tommy’s.

Other recognisable faces taking part included Clara Amfo, Tyler West, Molly Rainsford, Aimee Fuller, Sophie Rayworth, Caroline and Tom Bridge, AJ Pritchard, Tom Clare, and Casey O’Gorman.

Race director Lia Fyles said it had been an extraordinary day and that this was undoubtedly her favourite annual event. She acknowledged that they had created something special with this half marathon and that for many of the day’s 20,000 participants it was far more than a race, with many people running the 13.1 miles for deeply personal reasons and raising money for wonderful causes. She expressed pride in the inclusive and welcoming environment, saying it was genuinely wonderful to see athletes from all backgrounds crossing the finish line. She congratulated all competitors and thanked the tremendous supporters and volunteers who made the event possible. She added that they were looking forward to returning next year for the milestone tenth edition in 2027, which would be exceptionally memorable.

Stefan Otway took first place in 1:08:31, while Katya Kostrencic led the women’s field in 1:22:13. Kombo Tunduwani was the fastest visually impaired runner, completing the course in 1:49:45 with guide runner Warwick Hockley. Ben Spencer won the wheelchair category, finishing in 1:52:21.

The tenth London Landmarks Half Marathon is set for April 4, 2027. Early sign-ups are open at www.llhm.co.uk.