Manor Park resident completes London Marathon, continues fundraising in honour of her father

Mallory Katz more than halfway toward fundraising goal

By Mallory Katz May 8, 2026

Mallory poses with her London Marathon medal following the event on April 26. PHOTO: EMMA KIESEKAMP

Hello again, Manor Park,

In March, I wrote about my journey training for the London Marathon. I am happy to report that I made it to the finish on Sunday, April 26, although I just got back and am still feeling the effects.

I arrived in London three days early and managed to fit in some sightseeing, including the Tower of London, London Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye, and walks along the Thames. I also visited the race expo, where I met members of the MS Society UK and connected with other runners supporting the cause.

Race day was incredible. With over 66,000 finishers, the energy was unlike anything I have experienced. Collectively, runners raised well over £60 million for charities, which speaks to just how powerful the event is beyond the race itself. Participants took on the course in all kinds of ways, including in costumes, barefoot, and even carrying fridges, many of whom were somehow still passing me.

The heat and crowds were a challenge, but I was proud to finish with a personal best time of 4:09:31. It was especially exciting to be part of a historic race at the elite level, where both Yomif Kejelcha and Sabastian Sawe ran under the two-hour mark, an incredibly rare achievement that shows just how fast the sport is evolving. On the women’s side, Tigst Assefa set a women only world record of 2:15:41.

Finishing near Buckingham Palace was unforgettable, even if I crossed the line completely out of breath.

Fundraising

I am now halfway to my fundraising goal for the MS Society UK and would love to make one final push. If you were thinking about donating, it is not too late. I am still accepting donations, and every contribution continues to make a meaningful difference.

If you’d like to support the fundraiser, you can visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/mallory-kata?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Thank you, Manor Park, for all the support. It truly carried me through the race.