Auctioneer Richard Winterton has successfully completed the 2026 London Marathon, raising thousands of pounds for two important causes. He joined nearly 60,000 participants to take on the iconic 26.2-mile course in rising temperatures on Sunday, April 26. Richard finished the race in just over six hours and has raised more than £8,000 so far for Parkinson’s UK and We Love Lichfield.
The local father of four was inspired by the incredible atmosphere and the kindness of the crowds lining the streets. Richard said: “The noise of the crowds and the support the whole way round was just tremendous. I have to say it was extremely tough, but that feeling of positivity and cheers from people lining the route really kept me going. The most important motivation was the two amazing organisations I was running for and doing my best on behalf of all those who kindly sponsored me. It was awe-inspiring meeting some of the Parkinson’s group there and just incredible to see the sheer number of charities involved.”
A highlight for Richard was seeing his wife, Jan, and his four sons cheering him on at the 15-mile mark. Richard said: “Seeing my wife Jan, sons Tom, Ben, Harry and James and their partners gave me such a boost at 15 miles. My niece had been at London Bridge waving a sign saying ‘Uncle Richard’, my sister surprised me from the crowd and then I had a message from Ben to say watch out for us again as you go round the corner at Big Ben. All this kept me going. There were children with sweets, placards everywhere, music and noise… just an incredible spectacle running through the heart of the capital and past iconic London landmarks. Thank you so much to everybody who came along on the day and everyone who has donated. What an experience but never again – never, ever again!”
This year’s event was record-breaking, with 59,830 finishers making it the largest marathon ever recorded. The charities Richard chose to support are very close to his heart and his own family experiences. Richard said: “My dad Tony is currently living with Parkinson’s and my father-in-law, Roy, sadly passed away three years ago after living with the condition for 10 years. Parkinson’s affects thousands of people and their families across the UK and Parkinson’s UK provides vital support, funds research, and works towards better treatments – and ultimately a cure.”
He is also a passionate supporter of We Love Lichfield, which has provided hundreds of awards to local community projects. Richard said: “We Love Lichfield has given away £462,000 in 500 awards to 237 charities, groups or projects across our Lichfield District. One of The Community Foundation for Staffordshire & Shropshire’s place-based funds, it sees donations invested through an endowment fund, with the returns awarded to support local community and voluntary groups now and for future generations.”
Donations are still being welcomed through Richard’s JustGiving pages for both Parkinson’s UK and We Love Lichfield. Donations can still be made via two online links: www.justgiving.com/page/richard-winterton-1 for Parkinson’s UK and www.justgiving.com/page/richard-winterton-2 for We Love Lichfield.
