Sarah’s London Marathon Story

Stagecoach Group’s Chief People Officer, Sarah Blake, takes on the TCS London Marathon in support of Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.

Since 2022, Stagecoach has proudly supported Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, raising more than £150,000 to help provide specialist nurses and support for children living with complex and lifelong illnesses. Stagecoach colleagues have gone above and beyond to raise these crucial funds, from organising bake sales, leading local fundraising initiatives, and taking on challenge events. One colleague exemplifying this above-and-beyond attitude is Sarah Blake, Chief People Officer at Stagecoach Group, who will be running the TCS London Marathon on 26 April in aid of the charity. Alongside months of training, Sarah has been fundraising and shining a light on the life-changing support Roald Dahl Nurses provide. We caught up with Sarah to hear about her motivation, her training journey, and what taking part in the TCS London Marathon means to her.  

What motivated you to run the London Marathon for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity?  It’s been a lifelong dream to run the iconic London Marathon and to be able to run it for such a fabulous charity is an honour.   Whenever I talk to friends and family about Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, I can’t help but have a tear in my eye because it makes such a difference to the families of seriously ill children. As a mother to two boys, I feel proud to be supporting such a worthwhile cause.  You’re on track to reach your £2,000 fundraising goal. How have you approached fundraising and what tips would you give for other fundraisers?   Everyone I talk to I mention that I’m running the marathon, and they always ask for the link to my charity. When I tell them about the Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, they are delighted to support.  What have you enjoyed about your training?  I love running, it’s my ‘headspace’ and it helps me to relax and process. I’ve also started to listen to audio books which has been brilliant for my own growth and development.  The marathon is just around the corner! What are you most looking forward to about the event?  The start, the finish and everything in between! I can’t wait to see friends afterwards to celebrate too.  What would you say to others who might be thinking about running for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity?  Do it! It’s such a gorgeous charity and makes such a difference.  Sarah’s challenge reflects Stagecoach’s commitment to the charity and the collective effort of colleagues across the organisation. The partnership has gone beyond fundraising, with colleagues actively engaging with the charity’s mission and aims. Through regular site visits and opportunities to hear directly from Roald Dahl Nurses, Stagecoach colleagues have gained a deeper understanding of the specialist care our nurses deliver in the hospital setting and beyond.   Fundraising like Sarah’s is vital in ensuring this specialist support can continue.