A first mate, a funeral director and a keen teen: Meet the Henley 2026 marathon runners

A series of Henley residents are preparing to lace up their running shoes for major marathons this year, each turning their very different, difficult life experiences into fundraising miles.

Teenager Ella Presswell is preparing for the Manchester Marathon in memory of her late father; Volunteer first mate Emma Lister will run the London Marathon to support a sailing charity for young people living with and beyond cancer; and funeral director Kris Phillips is training for the Brighton Marathon to raise money for children with cancer.

A TEENAGER from Henley will be taking on the Manchester Marathon in support of a liver disease charity in memory of her late father.

Ella Presswell, 19, of Belle Vue Road, is a student at the University of Bath, studying sports science.

The event in April will be her first full marathon.

Miss Presswell began running about two years ago and says it helps her manage a busy student life and boosts her mental health.

She said: “It has always been an escape for me. I’m quite an anxious person and I do a lot of thinking.

“Sometimes I go out without music or anything — it’s a great way to come to terms with any feelings you want to process.”

Miss Presswell discovered this could help her sift through the grief of losing her father. He died when she was 14 from heart failure while waiting for a liver transplant.

She said: “It was a big blow — it all happened very quickly and I didn’t really process it. I just got on with life and didn’t think about it. It’s only now I’m older that I’ve started grieving properly.

“This race has brought up a lot of emotions, coming to terms with what happened, allowing myself to feel.

“I’d like to think my dad is proud of who I’ve become. People say running is more mental than physical. It takes a lot of motivation.”

Miss Presswell says keeping motivation can be hard in the modern world.

“The bar is constantly getting higher,” she said. “People are doing these crazy challenges. It has got to the point where a half marathon is someone’s casual morning run.

“I’ve always been a competitive person, looking to push the boundaries. I think the hardest thing is knowing when to slow down and enjoy each moment – to respect that a marathon is still a big distance.”

Miss Presswell is raising money for the British Liver Trust and has raised more than £2,000 for the charity — twice her original target.

She said: “I made about £1,500 in two days, which was completely insane. I was really overwhelmed — I was crying for about three days.”

Sharing her running challenge on social media was the first time she had really spoken about the loss of her dad and Ella said she was “shocked” by the support she received.

“It makes it even more motivating to smash this one out [the park],” she said.

Miss Presswell has been training for about four weeks and her mother, Natasha, has been supporting her.

“If I ever have any doubts, I know she’s only one call away,” said Ella. “She’ll always pick up and be there for me.”

University friends have also stepped up, joining Ella for 10km stretches of her runs or travelling alongside her on their bikes.

Miss Presswell said that while running a marathon is daunting she will remind herself that she isn’t really alone.

“One of the things I love about running so much is the community it brings,” she said. “You’ve got millions of strangers supporting you — random people shouting your name — it’s incredible.”

To donate, visit tinyurl.com/ella-presswell-marathon

Miss Presswell with her father.

Emma Lister, 27, of Reading Road, Henley, will be running the London Marathon in April aid of a charity that uses sailing to inspire young people living through and beyond cancer.

She works freelance as a home move coordinator and volunteers for sailing charities on their boats, which can involve needing to step in on short notice to sail away for a week.

Ms Lister’s great uncle set up a maritime charity called UK Sailing Academy (UKSA) in the Isle of Wight, which her father became involved in.

At first, she “used to hate sailing” but this changed while on a holiday with friends.

Ms Lister did her Yachtmaster qualification in the Isle of Wight and used to see The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust there, offering sailing experiences to young people aged eight to 24.

Ms Lister is now the first mate on sailing trips the charity offers, which she will be supporting with her marathon.

“Being part of it, you really get to understand the difference it makes,” she said. “It inspires young people and it builds their confidence. By the end, they can steer the boat and do the sails themselves.

“Some come in so nervous, having never been away from their parents and they’re put on a boat with a bunch of strangers.

“Then they’ll start mingling with people from other boats at the marina, all the different ages mixing. You can see them getting more confidence — it’s like they brighten up.”

Ms Lister “always wanted to do more” for the charity than just sailing so, when she saw it had been accepted as a supportable charity by the London Marathon, she jumped at the chance.

Her target is £2,000 and she has amassed more than £1,400 so far. To donate, visit tinyurl.com/emma-lister-marathon

Emma Lister with her boyfriend JJ.

A FUNERAL director in Henley is bracing himself for the challenge of a lifetime as he prepares to take on the Brighton Marathon.

Kris Phillips, 37, of Rotherfield Greys, works at Tomalin & Son Funeral Directors in Reading Road. He has enjoyed his work helping grieving families but it has been a challenge emotionally at times.

Mr Phillips said: “When someone dies in their eighties and nineties, it’s generally a life well lived. But when it is a child, it’s tough. There was one little lad who was five or six and it just broke my heart. It really just hit home. I just felt like I had to do something.”

Mr Phillips is raising money for the Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia Association (CCLG), which he hopes will help give children a “fighting chance” against the disease.

It funds and leads research, provides guidance for children and young people with cancer and their families and brings together professionals to improve treatment and care.

Mr Phillips doesn’t think of himself as an experienced runner, although he completed the Henley Half Marathon two years ago.

“I’ve never done anything on this scale before,” he said. “Speaking to so many people who have done this in the past, they’ve said not to skip the training and stick to a plan.”

Mr Phillips’ workplace, Tomalin & Son, has also been very supportive, and has raised more than £1,700 so far. “That definitely spurs me on,” he said. “Seeing somebody new has put £10 into the pot is like ‘Good, I’ll just dedicate my next [training] run to that person.’”

Music, too, helps keep Mr Phillips focused.

“I like being able to put my headphones on and just run,” he said. “The funeral trade can be tough at times, so being able to go out and clear your headspace is a good thing.”

Asked why he chose to undertake a marathon, Mr Phillips said: “I think it’s about one per cent of the population that have run a marathon. I need something I can fit into my working life as a funeral director — it’s very much all day, and it can be all night. Marathon training can fit in before and after work, so it’s a bit easier.”

“I have a family, I’ve got three children, so I have to take into account my work and home life.”

Mr Phillips added: “My objective is to finish. As long as I can cross the line injury-free, I’m not concerned about what time I finish.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/page/kris-phillips-1 

Mr Phillips at a previous half-marathon.

In addition to these three, four more runners are taking on the London Marathon in aid of the Chiltern Centre, which supports disabled young adults.

Garth Miller has completed London previously as well as New York.

He said: “I think the work the centre does is extraordinary. As a Henley resident, I’m super keen to get involved raising money for it.”

Felix Harris, a personal trainer also based in Henley, recently completed a 100km ultramarathon for mental health charity SANE.

He said: “This cause [the Chiltern Centre] is close to my heart, as my older brother lives with Velo Cardiac Facial Syndrome (VCFS) and autism.

“I’ve seen first-hand how important support services like The Chiltern Centre are for individuals and their families. I can’t wait to take on this challenge and raise awareness and funds for such a vital charity.”

Charlie Sparks has a sister, Megan, who works at the centre. He said: “I’ve always had deep admiration for the incredible work the centre does — even more so for the part my sister plays in it.

“The compassion, patience, and dedication she shows in caring for the young adults at the Centre is nothing short of extraordinary.”

Elliot Cole, the final member of the group, is married to Katie Waggett, who has run a block-printing workshop at the centre.

He said: “I’ve seen at first-hand through a close client of mine the benefits that The Chiltern Centre can bring to developing the best in the young people it nurtures.”