Ted Lasso star Phil Dunster takes on TCS London Marathon for children’s cancer charity and cause close to heart

STAR of Ted Lasso, Emmy-award nominated Phil Dunster, is swapping his AFC Richmond football boots for his running trainers to run the TCS London Marathon this April for Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK’s leading charity for children and young people with cancer.

Phil, best known for his role as Jamie Tartt on Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, has joined Team Young Lives and become an ambassador for the charity, after his cousin’s four-month-old son was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away. 

Phil said: “I first learned about Young Lives vs Cancer when Rory, the son of my cousin Matt and his wife Amy, was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour sometimes found in children. 

“As you could imagine it was the worst time, and an incredibly sad and confusing time, but within 48 hours of his diagnosis, Matt and Amy had a Young Lives vs Cancer Social Worker by their side offering logistical, financial, and emotional support, in what was the most awful time. They were there by their side, all the way through.” 

Matt and Amy said: “There’s nothing in the world that can prepare you for hearing the devastating news that your child has cancer. No imaginable guard you can put up to make the blow any softer; no face brave enough to hide the fact that your heart has just broken. 

“Young Lives vs Cancer have been present since the very beginning of Rory’s diagnosis and continue to help us find our way through the process as parents. Their support and guidance made Rory’s diagnosis, hospital journey and death a far less lonely and terrifying experience.” 

Phil is hoping to raise £10,000 running the TCS London Marathon for the charity and has started training. 

Phil said: “I’m equal parts excited and terrified to tell you that I’ll be running the London Marathon this year for Young Lives vs Cancer. I want to raise as much as I can to help Young Lives vs Cancer Social Workers be there for more children like Rory and their parents. 

“Their amazing social workers are there from the moment of diagnosis to make sure children and young people with cancer and their families get the right care and support at the right time. But they don’t get any government funding, so it’s up to people like us to make sure they can carry on doing what they do.   

“So that’s why I’m taking on this absolutely epic (and rather mad) challenge.”

Matt and Amy and their family have already raised more than £48,000 for charities in Rory’s memory. They want to see as many people as possible support Phil’s marathon efforts. 

They said: “We are so thankful to Phil for taking on this incredible challenge and so proud that it’s in Rory’s name. It goes without saying that Rory will forever be our hero and our daily inspiration to live life full of purpose and love. We will do so much good in his brave, beautiful spirit.” 

Phil said: “I’d be forever grateful to anyone who will sponsor me. I’ve also gone fancy and got my own text to donate code too. So you can text Text PHIL to 70450 to donate £5. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message. Thanks a lot for the love and support. Keep it coming. I really am going to need it.”

To visit Phil’s fundraising page, click here.