WOMBLING AROUND LONDON for the final time!

Whether as a first-time participant, a seasoned runner or veteran of the Womble suit, those who ran the 2023 London Marathon for Jesuit Missions or JRS UK were carried along by the crowds and the causes for which they were raising money.

Sunday 23 April 2023 arrived with a sense of anticipation for some London Marathon-runners, trepidation for others and adrenaline for all. The 2023 race was the biggest ever. More than 48,000 runners followed the cool and rainy 26.2 mile (42km) course, which took them from Greenwich to The Mall. For many, the motivation came from running for a compelling cause, as was clear from the plethora of extraordinary costumes and vibrant charity colours. Among these were one Womble, 23 other runners from Jesuit Missions and four JRS UK runners.

David Law grew up in London and graduated from St Ignatius College, Stamford Hill in 1967, before joining the Jesuit novitiate. However, he realised that this was not his calling and went on to train as a teacher, working in Kingston, Jamaica before moving with his wife to British Columbia, where he taught for thirty years. When asked about why he chose to run for Jesuit Missions, David said: ‘I admire the work that Jesuit Missions is engaged in and wanted to support their endeavours. Having spent my career in education, the goal of supporting the education infrastructure in the poor, war-torn country of South Sudan is extremely commendable.’

David has run three marathons before, including the 1996 London Marathon and the Victoria Marathon in British Columbia in 1997 and 1998. When asked about what he likes most about training he says: ‘Training gives me something to work towards, gets me out of the house, and keeps me fit and active. At the end of a run, I usually feel invigorated and a sense of accomplishment.’ However, training in the Canadian winter presents its own challenges. ‘Where I live, with snow and ice on the roads from October to April, a lot of the training has to be done inside on a treadmill which is BORING!’

Fr Patrick Magro SJ, a Jesuit from Malta, took on the ultimate challenge and chose to run as a Womble. Donning the furry costume calls for extraordinary commitment and fortitude, both of which Patrick has in large reserve, having run the marathon three times previously. ‘Jesuit Missions does great work, and I am so very happy to support it’, he said. ‘As a Jesuit working in a university chaplaincy with young people, I truly believe in leading by example. I really would not like to be one who just preaches about reaching out to others, but rather one who sets a good example. So, I decided to run the marathon dressed as a Womble once again!’ He had lots of support along the way as family and friends from Malta and London joined him on the day to cheer him on.

Each year, Jesuit Missions has had at least one member of their team running in the event. This year Lucy Gillingham participated. ‘As International Programmes Officer, having visited our partners in Africa and Asia, I am lucky to know the people implementing the projects and the individuals and communities who are benefitting from our support. This year the fundraising theme was education in South Sudan, where I visited in November. I saw first-hand the huge challenges faced by the youngest country in the world, so this gave me extra motivation.’ She went on to describe the atmosphere: ‘Everyone talks about how incredible it is, but the cheering crowds really do carry you and take your mind off the pain! A particular highlight was one man running as a Domino’s Pizza garlic and herb dip, who provided some much-needed comic relief.’

2023 was the final year that Jesuit Missions will host a team of runners in the London Marathon. Director, Paul Chitnis, expressed his gratitude for all who have run over the years.

‘Our marathon-runners have been exemplars of generosity, fortitude and (in the case of the Wombles) glorious eccentricity. Over more than a decade, they have raised thousands of pounds to help some of the poorest communities in the world. While our London Marathon days are complete, the work of building a more just and sustainable future with our partners overseas is an even greater marathon in which we invite everyone to join us.’

Jesuit Refugee Service had four runners, all of whom were first-timers. Speaking of her motivation, Ana said: ‘No-one wants to be uprooted from their home and surroundings, but it’s a growing global trend of which we see a little here in the UK. It’s incredibly hard to witness the cruelty of the hostile environment, which is unhealthy and unhelpful for everybody. So JRS UK has made me get up and run a distance I told myself I would NEVER do, and I feel privileged to do so.’

Another of the runners on the team was Francis. He said that he decided to run the London Marathon after people he found inspiring convinced him to take on the challenge. As well as being his very first marathon, he says it was probably his last!