Get to know our #TeamWomenInSport runners at the 2026 London Marathon and learn their motivations behind supporting our charity.
Charlie and Sabine
Partners Charlie and Sabine (Beanie) are running for us because women’s sport is central to their lives: women’s rugby is how they met, where they work, and something they believe everyone should be able to enjoy. Through their experiences in sport, they’ve seen both its incredible impact and the barriers many women and girls still face, and they’re passionate about helping us to create change.
This challenge is also deeply personal. After a difficult year following emergency surgery and the news that they would need IVF to start a family, the marathon marks a powerful milestone almost one year on: “The 2026 London Marathon will mark a year almost to the day since the surgery and we can’t think of a better way to mark the end of that year than achieving something together that 12 months ago would have been unthinkable.”
Support Charlie and Beanie
Georgie Cowell
Georgie is running in memory of her best friend Harriet, who’s sudden passing three years ago left a lasting impact on all who knew her. Harriet’s passion for running inspired many around her, and Georgie’s marathon effort follows in the footsteps of Harriet’s father, who ran the same race in her memory last year.
Georgie is running to help ensure more women and girls can access the joy, self-belief and sense of belonging that sport gave her friend: “Sport and exercise were a huge part of who Harriet was. Through this challenge, I hope Haz’s legacy will continue by helping others experience the same joy that sport gave her. This one’s for you Haz.”
Donate to Georgie’s fundraiser
Helen Booker
Helen is combining a lifelong love of running with a commitment to improving access to sport and physical activity for women and girls. Running has been central to her mental and physical wellbeing, particularly by making her feel more connected to nature. Having returned to training after a period of injury, the marathon represents a significant personal milestone.
Helen is passionate about tackling gender inequality in sport and is supporting Women in Sport’s mission to ensure that every woman and girl can experience the lifelong benefits of being active.
“I’m running for WiS because sport and exercise have so many benefits for our physical and mental health and WiS do amazing work to ensure we all have opportunities to enjoy those benefits”.
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Siya Mistry
Siya is driven by a belief that every woman and girl should get the chance to feel they belong in sport. Having played sport throughout her life, she has also experienced first-hand some of the barriers that prevent participation, including cost, access, and lack of welcoming spaces.
She is passionate about breaking down these barriers so women of all backgrounds can find a way to move that works for them. Siya is also proud to be part of the Runners & Stunners community, using this challenge to help make spaces more welcoming for women in sport.
“I’ve played sport throughout my life and have seen the obstacles many women and girls face. Sport can be life-changing, but too many women and girls are missing out.”
Contribute to Siya’s fundraiser
Julieta Schwartz
Julieta believes that every woman and girl deserves equal access to the resilience, self-belief and belonging that sport can provide. Running has played a transformative role in her life, building discipline and self-belief.
Working in football, she has seen first-hand the impact of underrepresentation and structural barriers facing women and girls in sport. Through this challenge, she is helping us to break down those barriers and ensure more women feel included and supported – whatever their chosen form of movement.
“Running taught me resilience, community, and self-belief, things every woman deserves to feel. Too many girls are pushed out of sport before they ever get the chance to experience that feeling. That’s why I’m running the London Marathon, so every woman and girl can feel confident, supported, and that they truly belong in sport.”
Support Julieta
Izzy Horgan
Izzy’s London Marathon 2026 story brings together a lifelong passion for sport and a professional career in women’s football. Having played football from a young age and now working in the women’s game, sport is central to her identity both personally and professionally.
After switching from football to running and completing the Barcelona Marathon in 2025, she is now taking on London as a major personal challenge. Izzy is passionate about ensuring more women and girls can access the opportunities sport has given her – from self-belief and community to improved wellbeing and lifelong participation.
“Over the years women’s sports have given me a safe space to be myself, a community and some incredible memories and that is why I’m honoured to be supporting Women in Sport and all the fantastic work they do.”
Donate to Izzy’s page
