Meet Anthony, a valued member of our incredible Board of Trustees, who’s lacing up to take on the exciting challenge of running the 2026 London Marathon in aid of our mission of empowering and enabling disadvantaged young people to discover meaningful careers in the construction and built environment sector.

Anthony shares what’s going on behind the scenes on his Marathon journey – touching on the highs and lows of training and why others should fundraise in aid of CYT!

Why does supporting young people through CYT matter to you?

“It’s huge. It’s about being able to be a role model for them. Being able to have a real impact on their lives and the decisions they make. When I was younger, I didn’t have someone I could relate to in construction. Now, I want to be that person for them.”

What inspired you to run the London Marathon, and why for CYT?

“As a Trustee, I’ve already raised about £7,000 for CYT through events like a 100-mile bike ride, the Three Peaks Challenge, and Tough Mudder. I’ve always wanted to run the London Marathon because I love running. After trying twice unsuccessfully through the ballot, I decided to ask CYT if they had charity places since they’re my charity and I’m already so passionate about what they stand for — and here I am! I’ve done two half marathons before, but the London Marathon will be my biggest challenge yet – plus, it’s iconic and prestigious. Running it for CYT was a no-brainer.”

What’s your fundraising target and how do you plan to reach it?

“I plan to share my training journey on socials previously, I raised £7k across several events, so I’m aiming for a similar amount.”

How’s the training going – any highlights or challenges?

“I’m in the early stages, running three lots of five-kilometre runs a week including a weekend park run to stay motivated as I love the social element of it. The biggest challenge so far has been motivating myself to keep on track with my training plan. I used AI to generate my training plan and listen to podcasts to keep my mindset positive while running.”

What are you most looking forward to on race day?

“The crowds and atmosphere, seeing runners in costumes, and of course, the medal! I’m thinking of running in a high-vis or a hard hat — something fun and different.”

Why should others apply to run the London Marathon for CYT, or fundraise for our cause in general?

“By running the London Marathon in aid of CYT, you would be running for a wonderful charity that does truly impactful work for young people. For me, I try to support CYT however I can, resharing their work on social media, raising awareness through fundraising events and now running the marathon.

If you want to be part of something meaningful, step forward and join the great work CYT is doing. The same applies to any fundraising events organised to support CYT, whether it’s big or small, every bit goes a long way in helping young people access brighter futures.

And if you’re looking for a real challenge—something that pushes you out of your comfort zone—this is it. My daughter has even registered her interest, and she’s never run a marathon before! It’s an amazing journey to be part of, and you won’t regret it.”