London Landmarks 2026: turning miles into reading moments
On Sunday, our incredible team of charity runners took on the London Landmarks Half Marathon, weaving through the historic streets of the capital to raise vital funds to help children read.
From first-timers to experienced runners, every one of our charity runners showed determination, generosity and a shared belief that every child should have the chance to develop strong reading skills. Thanks to their efforts – and the generosity of friends, family and colleagues – we’ve raised over £5,000. That’s enough to fund more than 250 one-to-one reading sessions for the children who need that extra support.
A unique half marathon through the heart of London
The London Landmarks Half Marathon is one of the UK’s most iconic running events, with a closed-road route through Westminster and the City of London. Passing world-famous landmarks and lined with cheering crowds, the atmosphere carries runners through every mile.
For corporate runner Stephanie Davis, the experience was both challenging and rewarding:
“I ran the race yesterday and it was a great (and tough!) experience – my first race after a year off from running, so I was really happy to get round and finish in my goal time of 2:30. It definitely reminded me how hard the half marathon distance can be!”
The course itself was challenging mentally – lots of twists and turns through the City, at times feeling like a never‑ending maze. The atmosphere was brilliant though, and that definitely helped keep things going when it started to feel hard.’
Why running for Bookmark Reading Charity matters
Every runner wore their Bookmark running top with pride, knowing they were helping to improve children’s literacy and reading confidence.
At Bookmark Reading Charity, we support children in the most disadvantaged communities by:
- Providing one-to-one reading support
- Enriching school libraries with high-quality, diverse books
- Helping children develop a lifelong love of reading
Corporate runner Kathleen Moran shared why supporting children’s reading is so important to her:
“Reading has brought me so much joy throughout my life – especially when I was younger – so it felt really special to use my running to support such an important cause.”
“Taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon was an incredible experience, and it was so motivating to run alongside others supporting causes close to their hearts. I’m really grateful to everyone who supported and donated, and proud to have contributed in some small way to the charity’s work.”
From the start line to the finish: the Bookmark perspective
Among the runners was Joshua Monaghan Coombs, part of the Bookmark team, who sees first-hand the impact that fundraising has on children improving their reading skills.
Reflecting on the day, Joshua said:
“Running the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Bookmark Reading Charity was a real joy. It’s a cause I genuinely care about, so it felt meaningful from start to finish.”
While the route and atmosphere made it unforgettable, the final miles proved the most challenging:
“The second half of the race was definitely tougher, but the adrenaline from the atmosphere kept me going. Spotting family, friends and the Bookmark team along the route – and all the funny signs people were holding – made it surprisingly easy to stay motivated.”
Joshua also reached an incredible milestone, raising over £1,000 to support children’s reading. He shared his top fundraising advice:
“People were really supportive once they understood why I was running and how Bookmark functions as a charity to help disadvantaged children read. Keeping the message clear, sharing a few updates during training and reminding people that every contribution helps made a big difference.”
Turning miles into moments of reading success
Together, our London Landmarks Half Marathon runners raised over £5,000 – helping us deliver more than 250 one-to-one reading sessions for children who need them most.
Each of these sessions represents something meaningful:
- A child building the confidence to read aloud
- A volunteer helping unlock a love of stories
- A teacher supported with resources to inspire their class
For many children, these moments can be life-changing – building reading confidence, boosting self-esteem and creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
Thank you for helping children fall in love with stories
We’re incredibly proud of every runner who took on this challenge, and so grateful to everyone who donated, shared a fundraising page or cheered from the sidelines.
Your support helps ensure that more children can discover the joy of reading and build the literacy skills they need to thrive.
Discover other ways to support us
Explore our volunteering, fundraising and donating opportunities
