Running for Sight: Orbis at the London Marathon 2026

Four runners represented Orbis at the London Marathon start line, whilst two chose to run the MyWay London Marathon from France. They were united by one goal: to end preventable blindness.

This matters because millions still live with sight loss that could be prevented or treated.

Orbis works in low- and middle-income countries to train doctors and nurses, improve hospitals, and make eye care more accessible. Taking on the London Marathon for charity helps fund this life changing work.

Every step they took will help someone, somewhere, see again.

Why Celia and Esther chose to run for Orbis:

Celia first discovered Orbis in 2008, when her father, who had a career in aviation for 50 years, took the family to see the Flying Eye Hospital at Stansted. The visit stayed with them, and they promised to support Orbis’s work. Years later, her good friend Esther suggested taking on the London Marathon MyWay, and after Celia’s cataract and glaucoma surgery in January 2025, choosing to run for Orbis was an easy decision.

Around the world, millions of people are living with sight loss that could have been prevented or treated. Yet in many places, access to even basic eye care is limited.

Orbis is working to change that.

Through hands on training, long term partnerships and innovative programmes, we help build sustainable eye care systems. This means more people can access the treatment they need, when they need it.

Taking part in events like the London Marathon for Orbis helps make this possible.

To our six runners, thank you. Your dedication and resilience are inspiring. By choosing to run for charity, you are helping create a future where no one loses their sight unnecessarily.

To everyone who donated or supported, thank you for standing with us.

Together, we are taking steps towards ending preventable blindness.

Ready to take your place on Team Orbis? Sign up with the form below for a charity place next year at London Marathon 2027. Please note, you will need to scroll through the form below and click submit at the bottom to complete your submission.

As part of Team Orbis you will receive: 

• A personalised Orbis running vest T-shirts for all of your supporters joining us at the cheering post on the big day!
• Fundraising advice and resources
• A dedicated member of the fundraising team to point you in the right direction and help in any way that they can
• The knowledge that you are providing a brighter future for hundreds of people across the developing world, whose precious sight will be restored. 

Prefer to support now? Donate or share our mission today - your action helps protect sight this year. 

No one should lose their sight to a condition that can be prevented or treated.