Brothers gear up to run London Marathon for Children with Cancer UK

15 April 2024

Tom Birchley, an experienced West Mercia police officer, is gearing up for a long-distance challenge with a ‘supersonic’ twist as he prepares to make his marathon debut alongside his younger brother in the London Marathon next weekend.

What sets this endeavour apart is not just their quest to conquer the 26.2-mile course, but the fact that Tom and his sibling Joe, will run the entire race dressed as the iconic Oasis brothers, Noel and Liam Gallagher.

Tom, 44, has been serving with the constabulary for two decades, and has been in the Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) department for the past three years as a detective sergeant. His brother is in an Oasis tribute band called Supernova, which prompted the idea for the pair’s ‘Runderwall’ challenge.

“I've always wanted to do it. It's always been on my bucket list,” said Tom, who admits he has always harboured a dream of participating in the London Marathon thanks to childhood memories of watching the iconic event on television.

Tom and Joe Birchley will be running the London Marathon dressed as Liam and Noel Gallagher

Tom, along with Joe, 42, also decided to use their marathon challenge as a platform to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK, a cause close to their hearts for which they hope to raise £3,000.

Their charity choice stems from personal experiences with childhood illness, as both brothers have witnessed the impact of cancer on families.

Tom said: “We both have children and we’ve both had problems with our children in terms of health scares. I also have a close family friend who lost a daughter to cancer, so I’m very proud to be supporting such an important charity.”

A keen runner for as long as he can remember, Tom is also a passionate advocate for the mental health benefits that it provides.

“I find running to be a great release,” he continued, adding: “It's that place I think you can go, you're on your own, you're away from work, you're away from home, and you're away from any other stresses.”

In addition to banking plenty of miles and braving freezing ice baths as part of their preparation, the Birchley brothers have been busy fundraising through creative activities such as cake sales and nostalgic 90s nights.

The brothers have already competed in the Alton Towers Half Marathon, and as they approach the marathon date, this Sunday (21 April), they are eyeing a sub-four-hour finish, all while embracing their Oasis-inspired personas. However, their marathon journey hasn't been without setbacks, with Tom currently nursing a sciatica problem that he will need to overcome on race day.

As if running the marathon was not enough, the pair have a busy day planned, with a trip to Wembley to watch the FA Cup Semi-Final between Manchester United and Coventry City on the cards later that afternoon.

Tom joked: “I might have to keep going all the way to the Wembley arch.”

For those interested in supporting their cause or tracking their progress, Tom has set up a JustGiving page and you can also join in on Facebook by searching for ‘Runderwall – London Marathon 2024’.