What began as a promise between a father and his young son became a powerful, emotional journey through the streets of London. This story stays with you, and the photos at the end bring it all to life.
A father’s emotional tribute at the London Marathon has resonated far beyond the finish line, as Ceri Menai-Davies carried the memory of his six-year-old son through every mile of the 26.2-mile course, turning a personal promise into a powerful public moment.
When Ceri completed the race on 27 April 2026, he did so not alone but symbolically alongside his son, Hugh Menai-Davies, who passed away in 2021 after a year of intensive cancer treatment.
The Hertfordshire father wore Hugh’s shoes around his neck throughout the marathon, paired with a T-shirt bearing a message that captured the depth of his mission: “My name is Ceri. These are the shoes of my six-year-old son Hugh. He died before I could run this marathon. Today, he finishes it with me.”
The gesture was both deeply personal and publicly poignant, with the back of his shirt carrying the names of 500 children who have also passed away — a stark reminder of the wider community affected by childhood cancer.
On the day, Ceri was supported by former Wales footballer Aaron Ramsey, who also took part in the marathon to help raise funds for the Menai-Davies family’s charity established in Hugh’s memory, It’s Never You.
Before Hugh’s death, Ceri had promised his son he would run a marathon — a promise that became a driving force after Hugh’s passing.
