Cancer patient runs 'phenomenal' London Marathon

A Jersey colon cancer patient who completed the London Marathon on Sunday said the experience was "phenomenal".

Sam Wilkes was diagnosed with the disease in August and finished his chemotherapy treatment in March.

The treatment meant Mr Wilkes was not able to train fully for the marathon.

He finished in five hours and five minutes, raising more than £3,100 for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Friends of Jersey Oncology (FOJO) charities.

Mr Wilkes spoke to BBC Jersey on Monday morning and said: "My legs aren't as bad as I'd thought they'd be but my feet are in tatters.

"I was actually five minutes quicker than I was the last time I ran this marathon."

He added: "The day was phenomenal - just the noise, the runners, the crowd, the support, all of it was exceptional all the way through."

The 2025 London Marathon set a new world record for the number of finishers.

Katie Cartwright was another Jersey runner who completed the London Marathon.

She had run the Boston Marathon six days prior to the event in the UK capital.

Ms Cartwright said: "It seems to be the only major I have done so far where you end up seeing a four-person caterpillar, a netballer, Big Ben, a helicopter, Spider-Man all running the marathon alongside you."

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