London Marathon 2019: Runners will tackle marathon barefoot and in ski boots to boost good causes and thank life-savers

The father of a boy who had open-heart surgery as a six-week-old baby is running the London Marathon to thank doctors for saving his son’s life.

Alamgir Kabir, 46, of Dulwich, will be accompanied by 14 members of Evelina London’s cardiology team involved in the care of Zaki, now 13. They are among thousands of runners taking part on Sunday for good causes.

Zaki was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called truncus arteriosus when his mother, Saleha, was 20 weeks’ pregnant. He underwent a seven-hour operation and further heart repairs at the Evelina, in Lambeth, when he was five and 12 and has made a full recovery.

Mr Kabir said: “As a heart doctor myself, I was extremely impressed by the cutting-edge treatments given to Zaki and the dedication and care shown by staff. We owe Zaki’s life to Evelina London.”

Gemma Morris, a 35-year-old private flight attendant from Horsham, West Sussex, is running in memory of her father Sid Challacombe. He died in 2005 from blood cancer after being unable to get a stem cell transplant that could potentially have offered a cure.

Ms Morris, who three years ago had never run more than four miles, will be attempting her third consecutive London Marathon. She said: “My dad never had the opportunity to have a transplant, but I know that Anthony Nolan tried to find a match for him. That’s why I’m running the London Marathon for them this year, so more people are able have that chance.”

Financial adviser Toby Bentley, 25, of Herne Hill, will run the marathon two years after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He will raise funds for CLIC Sargent, a charity that supported him through his treatment. He recalled watching the 2017 marathon from Guy’s hospital after being diagnosed. “I was in my robe and then there was everyone finishing the marathon with their medals and that was when I promised myself I would do that,” he said.

Global adventurer Anna McNuff, 34, aims to run more than 2,500 miles across the UK with no shoes —starting with the marathon. She will cover the distance of 100 marathons.

A London surgeon will be running in ski boots weighing nearly a stone for the British Paralympic Association and charity World Orthopaedic Concern. Paul Harnett, 42, will be the second man to contest the record for the fastest marathon in ski boots, and hopes to complete it in just over five-and-a-half hours.