Terry, Wilshere, Bonucci top list of nine ex-football stars registered to run in April’s London Marathon
According to the London Daily Mirror, Chelsea legend John Terry, Arsenal icon Jack Wilshere and former Italy defender, Leonardo Bonucci are among nine footballers who will participate in next month’s World Athletics Platinum Label London marathon.
While Wilshere who made 197 appearances for Arsenal across 10 years at the club and earned 34 caps for England, will running to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, Terry, the former Chelsea captain who won five Premier League titles for Chelsea will run for Rays of Sunshine, a children’s charity that supports and grants special wishes for seriously ill children aged three to 18.
Wilshere explains why she is running in one of the 16 Platinum Label road races in the world.
‘My family’s life was turned upside down when my little girl, Siena, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, which meant she had a hole in her heart. She’s since had lifesaving open heart surgery to repair the hole and is thankfully recovering well.
‘Each day around 13 babies in the UK are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. I want to help raise funds and awareness for all the amazing research the BHF funds, and I hope to help other families who have been affected in the same way we were. I’m proud to be an ambassador for such an amazing charity,’ said Wilshere.
The Daily Mirror says ‘Bonucci will fly the flag for the Young Lives vs Cancer charity while Oxford United manager Gary Rowett will be taking part in his fifth London Marathon, as will ex-Leeds, Manchester City and England defender Danny Mills.
Other footballers expected to run on April 27, 2025 include Darren Randolph who played for West Ham and Ireland (supporting Diabetes UK), Jody Morris who played for Chelsea (supporting Rays of Sunshine), Natasha Dowie, played for Liverpool Women and England (supporting Owen McVeigh Foundation) and Steve Sidwell who played for Chelsea, Reading and Fulham (supporting British Heart Foundation / MND).
