TCS London Marathon: Marie Curie Daffodil Runner highlights scale of end of life care crisis

A powerful statue of a runner in motion has been unveiled at Tower Bridge by Marie Curie, the 2026 TCS London Marathon Charity of the Year, ahead of the event this weekend.

Named 'The Daffodil Runner', the art piece features 557 steel daffodils – the leading end of life charity's iconic symbol – and represents the number of people that die each day in the UK without the end of life care that they need.

Ballroom dancers and TV personalities Curtis and AJ Pritchard and Zara Zoffany helped to unveil 'The Daffodil Runner' ahead of running for Marie Curie this Sunday.

The poignant art piece was hand-crafted by Alan Ross, a former care worker turned steel artist. The self-taught Welsh artist used his 20 years of experience to hand weld every daffodil onto the handcrafted body, which took over 200 hours to create.

'The Daffodil Runner' can be seen next to Tower Bridge at Potters Fields Park today (Tuesday, 21 April) – the iconic mid-way point along the TCS London Marathon route – before it moves to the ExCel London to inspire runners as they collect their bib numbers. It will then be permanently housed in the gardens of the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale in Penarth.

The artwork was created following findings from a recent study by Marie Curie, which shows the growing scale of the end of life care crisis. Across the UK, almost one in three people do not receive the end of life care they need. For those living in disadvantaged communities, the gap is even wider. Every three minutes, someone dies without proper support – nearly 200,000 people each year. And as the population grows older, the need for palliative care is rising fast. By 2050, that number could exceed a quarter of a million. It is a crisis hiding in plain sight.1

'The Daffodil Runner' comes after Marie Curie held a series of 'Grief Run Clubs' earlier this year in collaboration with running community Run Your Mind, giving people a safe space to come together, meet other runners and open up about their experiences of grief.

Alan Ross, steel artist and creator of 'The Daffodil Runner' said: "It hits home working on a project like this. I was really struck by the significance of the daffodils as I was making them – every one represents a person who died and did not get the end of life care they deserved, and seeing them lined up hit me hard. Having lost loved ones myself, I know just how valuable Marie Curie's work is, so it has been an honour to work on this special commission for the charity. This statue is a call to ensure that everyone has the care and support they need to cross the finish line of life with compassion."

Ballroom dancers and TV personalities Curtis and AJ Pritchard, who are running the 2026 TCS London Marathon for Marie Curie, said: "We lost our wonderful Nana during the pandemic, and like so many families, we've been living with that grief ever since. Grief doesn't have an end line. It stays with you and you learn how to cope with it, and channelling that love and loss into something positive has been incredibly powerful. Running the TCS London Marathon is both a tribute to our Nana and a way to stand alongside others who are experiencing similar heartache. We're proud to support Marie Curie's vital work and hope our efforts will help ensure more people receive the care, comfort and dignity they deserve at the end of life."

Dr. Sarah Holmes, Chief Medical Officer at Marie Curie, is attempting to break a Guinness World Record when she runs for the charity this weekend. She said: "Too many people spend their final days in hospital wards because the right care isn't available at the right time. Many can't access the support that they need at home, or fall through the cracks, leaving thousands to die in pain or distress, without dignity. Through working at Marie Curie for over 20 years, I've seen firsthand the difference our expert care and support makes – we truly are with you to the end.

"Two friends and I are taking on a bonkers challenge to become the fastest female team to complete a four-legged marathon. Running all 26.2 miles tied to each other will be very tough, but when I think about all the incredible work that my Marie Curie colleagues do 365 days a year to help people going through the toughest of times – it will make every step worthwhile."

Marie Curie provides expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, and support for their family and friends in the community, at its hospices and through its free national Support Line (0800 090 2309).

To support Marie Curie's 2026 TCS London Marathon runners and help with the goal to raise £2m to fund care, comfort and dignity for those at the end of life, and their loved ones, visit: mariecurie.org.uk/tcslondonmarathon

This year's 2026 TCS London Marathon will be held on Sunday 26 April.