Written by 17th September 2026
5 runners take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon to support children around the world suffering with heart disease.
On Sunday 11 October, five incredible runners will take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon in support of Chain of Hope, helping to celebrate our 30th anniversary while raising vital funds to provide life-saving heart treatment for children around the world.
Covering 13.1 miles through four of London's beautiful Royal Parks including Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens, the event is one of the London's most iconic races. Our dedicated runners have spent months training and fundraising, and we are proud to have them representing #TeamChainofHope
Meet Our Runners
James Campbell
This October, James will be taking on his first official half marathon in support of Chain of Hope. We are delighted to have him on Team Chain of Hope and look forward to cheering him across the finish line.
Zein Freiha
Zein is a passionate supporter of Chain of Hope and an enthusiastic runner. This will be her first time running for the charity, continuing a long-standing family connection with our work.
She has teamed up with her cousin, Darius, to launch their fundraising challenge, "Cousins on the Run." While Zein takes on the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London, Darius will be running the New York Marathon in November, with both cousins combining their efforts to support children in need of life-saving heart care.
Zein said:
"Knowing what we're running for will keep us going through the early starts, long training runs and those difficult final miles."
Freya Morrison
Freya is the niece of Chain of Hope Chief Executive Emma Scanlan and has supported the charity for many years, including volunteering at events. Having already completed the London Marathon in 2024, Freya is now taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon to help raise funds for the charity's life-saving work.
Freya said:"It is a great opportunity to contribute to the charity's efforts to save children's lives, having seen first-hand the work that the charity
Lauren Diventura
Lauren is an experienced runner who has regularly supported children's charities close to her heart. This will be her second Royal Parks Half Marathon, but her first time running for Chain of Hope.
We are incredibly grateful for Lauren's commitment and support as she helps raise funds for children who need specialist heart treatment.
Al Hepworth
Al is an experienced runner and long-time supporter of Chain of Hope. Although this will be his first Royal Parks Half Marathon for the charity, he has been a valued supporter of our work for many years.
We are thrilled to have Al representing Team Chain of Hope and helping to raise vital funds for children and families who need our support.
Join us at the Chain of Hope Cheer Point
Come and help us create an unforgettable atmosphere for our runners as they pass through the course.
Location: Near Serpentine North Gallery, West Carriage Drive
Time: 9:30am until 1:00pm (or until our final runner passes)
We are delighted to welcome back the UFO Steel Band, who will once again be bringing energy, music and a fantastic festival atmosphere to our cheer point. You will hear us before you see us!
Every donation made to our runners will help Chain of Hope continue providing life-saving heart surgery, treatment and care to children around the world.
If you are unable to donate, why not join us on race day and cheer our runners on as they take on this fantastic challenge?
Good luck to all our Royal Parks Half Marathon runners, and thank you for helping us change and save children's lives. ❤️
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Chain of Hope is a registered charity in the UK no. 1081384 and a registered company (ltd by guarantee) no. 3933420