Castlederg's Liam returns from London Marathon triumph with over £400,000 raised for Cystic Fibrosis

CASTLEDERG'S own Liam McHugh has returned home to a hero’s welcome after another remarkable showing at the TCS London Marathon on Sunday, where he not only conquered the brutal 26.2-mile course in punishing heat, but also achieved his staggering fundraising target - bringing his total raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to over £400,000.

At 63 years-old, Liam isn’t slowing down. In fact, his latest marathon marked yet another milestone in a lifelong mission to raise awareness and funds to fight cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic condition that affects over 10,800 people in the UK - including his daughter, Rachel, who was diagnosed in 1992.

“During the race, I kept saying to myself, what am I doing out here at my age?” Liam laughed.

“But once you cross that finish line and the aches start to fade, you can’t help yourself - you start planning the next one.”

Liam arrived in London last Thursday and spent Friday at the XL Arena collecting his accreditation and race number.

“That’s a day’s work on its own,” he said.

Race day began early, with a 4am start and a multi-leg journey to the starting line in Blackheath.

He was among the first wave of runners to begin the race at 9.39am.

Despite having run in heat before - most notably in the 2019 marathon - Liam described this year's event as the most physically demanding he’s ever faced.

“My feet were on fire from mile 15, and with no breeze, you just couldn’t cool off,” he said. “It was brutal.”

Crossing the finish line in 4 hours and 11 minutes - his slowest time to date - wasn’t about setting records for Liam.

“I just wanted to get home in one piece, my wife Eleanor warned me that was the priority,” he admitted.

“People were being treated the whole way along the route for heat exhaustion.”

But the heat didn’t stop the wave of generosity from Liam’s supporters.

Thanks to an outpouring of donations in the lead-up to the race, he hit his fundraising goal of £400,000 the morning of the marathon.

“When I learned the pressure was off, it gave me a huge lift,” he said. “Everyone has been brilliant.”

His current total from this year’s race alone sits at around £17,818, and Liam is confident that when all the donations come in, it will be closer to £20,000.

After the race, Liam was treated to some well-earned rest in the VIP hospitality suite where he got a shower, a 45-minute massage, and even had his medal engraved.

“And as much tea and drink as I wanted!” he joked.

He spent the afternoon cheering on fellow runners from the grandstand, soaking in the atmosphere of a record-breaking day - this year’s event saw a historic 56,640 people cross the iconic finish line on The Mall, earning all participants a place in the Guinness World Records.

Liam’s tireless efforts over more than three decades have already raised over £387,000 before this year’s event, bringing his total lifetime fundraising to well over £400,000.

His dedication was recognised nationally when he received the Pride of Britain Award in 2020.

Beyond the pavement, Liam has taken his advocacy to the halls of power, campaigning at both Stormont and Westminster for better access to life-changing treatments for people with CF.

While significant advances have been made for 90 per cent of those living with the condition, Liam’s mission now focuses on the remaining 10% who still await effective therapies.

“I don’t intend to give up until we find a cure,” he says with quiet determination.

His wife Eleanor was by his side in London, and after a day of well-earned rest in the countryside of Sussex, Liam arrived back in Castlederg on Tuesday evening.

Next up? A marathon of a different sort - responding to the hundreds of messages of support he received.

“That’s going to take me at least two days,” he said.

Liam’s friend, Conrad Keys, is also stepping in to support the cause, organising a raffle for a framed, signed Liverpool FC shirt from Conor Bradley to raise even more funds.

To Liam McHugh, the marathon is more than a race - it’s a symbol of relentless hope and unstoppable love for his daughter, for families across the UK, and for a future where CF stands for Cure Found.

To donate to Liam’s ongoing fundraising efforts for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, you can visit his JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/liam-mc-hugh.

Every step he takes brings us closer to a world where no one has to live with CF.