A critical care worker from Didcot completed her 16th consecutive London Marathon yesterday, Sunday April 23, in three hours 25 minutes.

Eileen Naughton, aged 40, works as a nurse’s assistant on the trauma ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Across the 16 races, she has raised a total of over £31,000 for charity.

Ms Naughton sadly lost her mum to oesophageal cancer in June 2018 at the age of 67.

The loss has made her even more committed to raising money for cancer charities.

This year, she ran in support of Children With Cancer. Children With Cancer is a charity that funds research into childhood cancers.

To donate to the cause, you can find Ms Naughton’s JustGiving page here. 

Ms Naughton said: “Knowing the 26.2 miles I ran was supporting Children With Cancer definitely helped me keep going. 

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“At 20 miles I thought I couldn’t keep the pace up.

"My legs were beginning to really hurt, but I remembered what pain and suffering the children and families go through and got things moving again.

Oxford Mail:

“The charity support was amazing with everyone shouting my name. I felt like a celebrity.

“Even walking back to the hotel with my dad, there were people congratulating me and wanting to see my medal.

“If I could bottle this feeling, I’d share it with so many people.

"When you hear so much bad news, it’s a wonderful feeling running and everyone wishing you well and smiling.

"It was the best day of my life." 

Before the race she said: “I run to support children that are going through difficult treatment.

“This year I have many of the children’s names who are currently receiving treatment on the back of my running vest.

“They are in handprints, and I will imagine that they are pushing me through when it gets tough.”

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She began running back in 2007 when she ran the 5km at Blenheim Palace to raise money for a children’s hospital that was being built in Oxford.

Ms Naughton said: “I loved the feeling of achievement and was lucky enough to get a charity place through work at the London marathon the following April.

“I completed my first marathon in five hours 28 minutes.

“Since then, I joined Didcot Runners, got quicker, and have completed marathons all over the world.” 

Oxford Mail:

She has also completed 50 mile and 100-mile ultra marathons.

In 2019, Ms Naughton achieved a Guinness World Record at the London Marathon for the fastest woman dressed as a hospital patient.

For this year’s marathon, she followed a strict training regime with 66 preparation runs that covered 554 miles.