Date published: 17 April 2025 by Sophie Wichman
Fred, a 76 year old retired police officer, is running his 33rd consecutive London Marathon to raise funds for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.
Fred Tomlinson from Doncaster has been running for Rainbow Trust, which supports families caring for a seriously ill child, for more than three decades since his daughter Claire died of cancer just before her 15th birthday in 1987.
Embracing the increasingly popular ‘back of the pack’ mentality Fred understands first-hand the importance of the support provided by Rainbow Trust’s dedicated Family Support Workers to families caring for a child with a life–threatening or terminal illness.
Fred says:
“The work Rainbow Trust does is much needed for families with children who have life-threatening or terminal illnesses. It enables families to cope as they face unimaginably difficult situations.
“I’ve supported Rainbow Trust for over 34 years. Its work is close to my heart because when my family were in this situation there were no organisations out there to offer help. We were fortunate we had a strong support group of family and friends – not everyone has this, making their help even more vital. And I will continue to support them as long as I can, especially next year for their 40th anniversary in 2026.”
In 2024 Fred battled a knee injury to complete the London marathon in 13 hours, finishing last. He said at the time “It’s a privilege to be at the back of the pack. 26 miles is nothing compared to what these children go through. They don’t have a choice, so it was never an option to quit. Next year I can only improve and one thing for sure is I will never give up.”
Zillah Bingley, Rainbow Trust’s Chief Executive is hoping to join Fred at Tower Bridge, just before the half-way mark to give him an extra boost.
Zillah says:
“We are extremely grateful to Fred, who will be running his 33rd consecutive London Marathon this year in support of Rainbow Trust. Fred’s dedication over more than three decades is truly remarkable and reflects his deep personal understanding of the challenges families face when a child is seriously ill. Fred's tireless fundraising efforts and compassion are an inspiration to us all, and we are incredibly proud and honoured to have him as part of our Rainbow Trust family.
“As we approach our 40th anniversary in 2026, Fred’s continued support is a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have over time. We’ll be cheering him on every step of the way this year and celebrating the incredible legacy he continues to build.”
If you would like to support Fred as he undertakes this impressive feat click here to donate Rainbow Trust Children's Charity: Frederick's page.
