Why we are fundraising for Parkinson's UK
In Memory of Graham Marchant OBE – Running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Parkinson’s UK
On 12 October, Sir Robert Buckland and Will Timmins will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in memory of Graham Marchant OBE, who sadly passed away on 28 December 2024.
Graham was a remarkable leader in the arts – he ran so many arts institutions, including Opera North, of which he was a co-founder, and The Place, home of the London Contemporary Dance School. He was a mentor and friend to so many across the cultural sector, remembered for his intellect, generosity, warmth, and unwavering support for others.
We also hold in our thoughts Graham’s partner, Andrew Hochhauser KC, with whom he shared a lifetime of love, companionship, and dedication to the arts.
We are running to honour Graham’s legacy and to raise vital funds for Parkinson’s UK, supporting their life-changing research and care for those affected by this cruel disease.
Every donation, large or small, will make a real difference – and will help us keep Graham’s memory alive in the most fitting way: by supporting others with kindness, determination, and hope.
Picture: Andrew & Graham in Paris
Thank you to our sponsors
£32
Pim Baxter
£32
Toby Evans
Well done - and a great cause.
£50
Alexey
Go Team!
£50
Claudia Samuel
A wonderful effort; you are a real inspiration
£212
Fergus Evans
Well done Robert!
£106
Joe Smouha
£17
Christopher Pincher
Jog on!
£32
Shobana Jeyasingh
wishing you every success !
£20
Matt Hinton
Well done both!
£22
Ben Howlett
Congratulations to you both - such a fantastic cause - rest up and looking forward to your next one ;) xxx
£22
Nicola Elliott
Well done!
£22
Tamara Lake
£22
Mark Bonney
£104
Deborah Roslund
Many congratulations Will 💝
£32
Rhiannon Lewis
£53
David Grief
£32
Stephen Gibson
Good luck Robert! What a great cause
£53
Iain Anderson
Great work team
£22
Debbie
Well done Will, my brother in law died too young with this horrible condition.
£11
Anonymous
£22
Anonymous
£32
Vasile Ilciuc
£30
Kevin Ogunsiakan
£50
Hetti Barkworth-nanton
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
£22
Beatrix Payne
Congratulations and thank you
£50
Paul And James
Well done. Super proud of you both.
£20
Sean Anstee
Hope you both have the best run x
£10
Christopher Sherwood
Excellent work. Run well x
£20
Russell Dowsing
£32
Stephen Day
£22
Chris Rust
Good luck new fiancé. Super proud! Hope you enjoy it, wonderful cause in the name of a wonderful man. X
£32
Augusta Richmond-bunting
Good luck! Gus and Alex x
£32
Eve & Ali
Happy running! 🏃🏻
£22
Karen Macdonald
Good luck Will, enjoy and a great cause 👍xx
£100
Ben Terrett
£53
Gary Sumner
Good luck tomorrow Robert!
£106
Stephen Wilson
Best of luck to everyone involved.
£53
Stephen Holt
A wonderful cause for a wonderful man. Good luck.
£30
Greg Clark
Enjoy the run for such a good cause
£53
Elizabeth Forgan
£15
Anonymous
£10
Ethan Neilson
Best of luck Robert!
£11
Anonymous
£106
Lee David
As promised Sir. Good luck and well done for doing an amazing thing for a great charity.
£22
Millie And George
Go Dad :)
£20
Matthew Line
We’ll be thinking of you and willing to you on!
£53
Rob Timmins And Hannah Platt
Run!!
£50
Nick Thorogood
Good luck - it’s wonderful cause and fabulous to do something in Graham’s memory
£100
Mark Evans
In respectful memory of Graham Marchant
£22
Anonymous
Enjoy
£22
Tom Mckeown
Best of Luck!
£20
Joy
Best of luck!
£53
Robert Gardener
Good luck! A superb cause.
£53
Steven
£53
Iddo Arad
£106
Joe Ferrigno
Good luck both!
£53
Robert Rinder
Run ! X
£20
Sandra Bruce-gordon
£20
Sandra Bruce-gordon
£22
Serena Alexander
Good luck Will!
£53
Michael Anderson
Good luck Will! Very impressive! Mike
£53
Margaret Cave
£20
Anonymous
£22
James Breslaw
Good Luck
£50
Anonymous
£53
Rachel
Good luck!
£150
David Joseph
Good luck and what a lovely thing to do in memory our dear friend Graham
£53
Louise Nicholson
Hope the sun shines for you both, and thus to Graham's spirit - one of the most impressive, generous and wise people I have ever met
£32
Pines
Good luck and Take it easy .
£54
David Craig
£100
Simon Watson
£27
Melanie Kilburn
Very good luck.
£30
Charlotte Masarati
Delighted to support your run in memory of Graham, what a wonderful thing to do.
£50
Stephen & Jeremy
Well done and best of luck to you both! xx
£30
John Harte
£53
Rachel Newman
Thank you for doing this for Graham. Good luck on the day.
£104
Kate And Charles
Good luck
£100
Simon & Jack
A great cause in honour of a great man, championed by a great guy. Best of luck Will!
£20
Katie Myles
£22
Ruth & Jonathan
In memory of G
£53
Rosie Hoare
Good luck 👍
£53
Angela Howard
£32
Anonymous
£53
Nelson Fernandez
Thank you for doing this in memory of much-missed Graham
£50
Kiaron Whitehead
Will - never give up. Here’s to you. Here’s to Graham. Kiaron x
£212
Bermard
Good Luck!
£50
Anonymous
Great to see.
£50
Chris And Michael
Graham would be so proud - best of luck to you both!
£25
Harri
£32
Bart & Stephen
Great initiative Will! Enjoy the half marathon run.
£20
Emily Gee
Bon courage and bon course. Thank you for supporting this cause - one very important to our family, too.
£22
Claire Hill
Thank you for doing this. My father has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. Best wishes for the event, Claire
£22
Fiona Bacon
Thank you for raising money for Parkinson's UK - it's a condition I know only too well as my mother had it and died in January this year, only 2 weeks after Graham it would seem. Good luck and hope the run goes well!
£38
Tania Sless
Keen to get you to your (initial) target! A very worthwhile cause. Good luck
£43
Liz Adams
Such a lovely thing you are doing in Graham’s memory. Good luck.
£106
Rita Clifton
Great cause. Lots of love. Rita & Brian
£53
Jemima Haddock
In memory of dear G
£53
Anthony Rabin
£27
Stephen Hammond
Robert Will Good luck. Pound the course to the finish
£20
Iain Stewart
Run, darling: run!
£20
Caroline Johnson
Good luck
£32
Matt Hancock
Good luck!!
£50
Owen Meredith
Best of luck to both of you! Great cause 🏃🏃
£53
Simon Page
Good luck Will! 🏃🏻♂️ A very worthy cause
£6
Stephen Cox
well done to all doing a tough run for a good cause
£20
Beckie And Bruno Clements
Go RB! Parkinson's UK is an excellent charity.
£22
Dominic Haddock
Run well team Graham! What a lovely thing to do.
£50
Jane Lush
Good luck team!
£212
Mum And Dad
Much love Will. This is a great cause !
£22
Michael Fabricant
A great charity!
£106
Shaun And Luke
Great cause. Happy running! Xx
£20
Jan Cresswell
Great cause, Will, and a wonderful tribute. Go well on the 12th!
£22
Ghada
Good luck Robert Buckland - best of luck to all participants - you are all community heroes. Let's see you championing other causes xxx.
£27
Amy Wright
Good luck Will! It’s a beautiful route, and a great cause! 🫶
Such a good cause.