A Journey of Love, Loss, and Endurance: Widow to Run London Marathon in Wedding Dress to Honour Late Husband
On what would have been her sixth wedding anniversary, Laura Coleman-Day is preparing to cross the finish line of the London Marathon in a deeply personal tribute—wearing her wedding dress. This poignant moment marks the culmination of an extraordinary year in which she has run 13 marathons, all to raise funds for blood cancer research.
Laura, from Witham St Hughs in Lincolnshire, lost her husband Xander—a Royal Air Force aerospace battle manager—to complications following a stem cell transplant. He had been battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Determined to transform her grief into action, Laura set out to complete 12 marathons in 12 months in support of the Anthony Nolan charity, which had supported vital research into post-transplant care—research she hopes can prevent other families from facing the same heartbreak.
What began as a 12-marathon mission turned into 13, with an extra “bonus” race in Guernsey earlier this month. She was joined there—and will be again in London—by her close friend Kate Walford from Guernsey, who is running in memory of her longtime friend Mark, her son’s godfather, who died in 2018 after his second battle with leukaemia.
Running never came naturally to Kate, who once doubted she could go beyond a few miles. But before his death, Mark asked her to continue raising awareness and funds for blood cancer. With that promise in her heart, she’s now committed to running 12 marathons in a year—Sunday’s London Marathon being her second.
The two women met through the Anthony Nolan charity and have formed a deep bond. “We haven’t spent much time together in person,” Laura said, “but I’ve gained a friend for life.”
As she prepares to stop at mile 23 to change into her wedding dress, Laura says, “I just can’t wait. It’s going to be hard, but it’s such a massive achievement.” Reflecting on the journey and her friend’s resolve, she adds with a smile, “I don’t recommend it—Kate’s mad!”
But mad or not, their shared mission speaks volumes of love, remembrance, and resilience. Would you like a photo or visual summary of their story?
