Father Runs London Marathon Carrying Late Son’s Shoes in Emotional Tribute to Childhood Cancer Battle

An emotional tribute during the 2026 London Marathon has touched thousands after a father completed the entire 26.2-mile race carrying the shoes of his late son around his neck.

Ceri Menai-Davis ran the marathon in memory of his son Hugh, who died in 2021 at the age of six after battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.

The small pair of shoes Ceri carried throughout the race held deep personal significance. According to the family, they were the same shoes Hugh wore during hospital visits while undergoing treatment. For Ceri, carrying them mile after mile represented far more than a symbol — it was a way of keeping his son close throughout the journey.

Images and videos from the marathon quickly spread online, with many people moved by the visible emotion behind the tribute. Supporters described the moment as a heartbreaking but powerful reminder of the enduring love between parents and children, even after loss.

Earlier in April, Ceri had also completed the Paris Marathon while carrying the same shoes, continuing his mission to honor Hugh’s memory through endurance events and charitable work.

Following Hugh’s passing, Ceri and his wife established a charity called It’s Never You, aimed at supporting families facing the devastating reality of childhood cancer. The organization works to provide assistance, awareness, and emotional support for parents navigating some of the most difficult moments imaginable.

Supporters online praised not only Ceri’s physical endurance during the marathon, but also the emotional strength required to publicly carry such grief while transforming it into advocacy and support for others.

Childhood cancer organizations and bereaved parents also shared messages of solidarity, noting how symbolic acts like Ceri’s marathon tribute can help raise awareness for diseases that often receive limited public attention.

Rhabdomyosarcoma, the cancer Hugh battled, is a rare cancer that forms in soft tissue and most commonly affects children. Treatment can involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, often placing enormous emotional and physical strain on families.

For many people following the story, however, the marathon became about something larger than sport or fundraising. It became a visible expression of a father’s love and refusal to let his son’s memory fade.

As Ceri crossed the finish line with Hugh’s shoes still hanging around his neck, supporters described the moment as both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring.

Through grief, remembrance, and determination, one father turned every mile into a message: love does not end when someone is gone.