Carrying the Weight of Love: One Father’s Extraordinary Tribute in the London Marathon

 

When Steve Marshall crossed the finish line of the 2024 London Marathon, he wasn’t just another determined runner among the 50,000 who took to the streets that day. Clad in black running gear, visibly straining under the weight strapped to his back, Steve carried far more than physical burden — he bore the weight of grief, memory, and enduring love.

Strapped to his back for all 26.2 miles was a 20kg (44-pound) rucksack — the weight, he says, that represents “everything my son will never get to carry.”

His son, Jacob, passed away at just three years old from a rare congenital heart defect. For Steve, a former Royal Marine from Wiltshire, the run became more than a personal challenge. It was a public act of remembrance, a message about resilience, and a fundraiser for the hospital that tried to save Jacob’s life.

The Spark of a Promise

Jacob died in 2021 after multiple surgeries and months of hospitalization. "He was small, but mighty," Steve recalls, speaking softly. “He fought harder than anyone I’ve ever known.”

In the days following Jacob’s passing, Steve found himself overwhelmed by grief. But amidst the sorrow, he made a vow: to keep Jacob’s spirit alive by doing something big every year in his honor. When the opportunity to run the London Marathon arose, he knew it was time.

“Running a marathon is tough,” he says. “But grief is tougher. I wanted to combine the two and create something meaningful.”

The 20kg weight he carried wasn’t arbitrary. It was symbolic. “That’s about the weight Jacob would’ve been at age three. I trained with it for six months. Every step was a reminder that he’s still with me.”

Training Through Tears

Preparing for the marathon with such a load was both physically and emotionally grueling. Steve trained five days a week, often running alone before dawn.

“There were mornings I didn’t think I could keep going,” he admits. “But I’d look at Jacob’s photo on the fridge and remember why I started.”

In addition to the rucksack, Steve wore a shirt with Jacob’s handprint across the back, and carried a small laminated photo of him in his front pocket. “I talked to him during the run,” he says. “At mile 18, when my legs were giving out, I told him, ‘Come on, little man. Let’s finish this together.’”

A Message That Echoed

As Steve jogged through the streets of London, spectators began to notice the weighted pack and the words emblazoned across his back: “Running for Jacob. Running for all the children who couldn’t.”

The emotional impact rippled through the crowd. Strangers clapped louder, many teared up. Some jogged alongside him briefly to thank him, share their own stories of loss, or simply offer a word of encouragement.

“That day wasn’t just about me or Jacob anymore,” Steve says. “It became a shared tribute.”

By the time he reached the final stretch on The Mall, Steve was exhausted. His knees buckled, his breathing shallow — but he never stopped. Crossing the line in 5 hours and 48 minutes, he dropped to his knees, removed the rucksack, and kissed the laminated photo of his son.

A Cause with Purpose

Steve’s marathon mission raised over £32,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Jacob received care. The funds will go toward cardiac research and improving support for families dealing with long-term pediatric illness.

“Jacob didn’t make it, but if his story can help save another child — or ease the pain for another parent — then he’s still doing something amazing,” Steve says.

He’s since been invited to speak at local schools, military charities, and bereavement groups. His message remains simple: “Grief doesn’t end. But you can carry it with purpose.”

What’s Next?

Steve isn’t done. Next year, he plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, again with a 20kg weight on his back, this time adding the names of other children lost too soon.

“My son wasn’t the only one. There are hundreds, thousands of kids whose stories are never told. I want to carry them too.”

He’s now building a campaign called "Weight of Love", a non-profit initiative encouraging parents to channel grief into endurance events while raising funds for pediatric care. Participants can choose their own symbolic weights — from running shoes to custom packs — and fundraise for a cause tied to their child’s memory.

“The goal is to build a community of remembrance,” Steve says. “We don’t move on from our children. We move with them.”

A Marathon of the Heart

Steve Marshall’s journey reminds us that love is never light — but neither is it fragile. The weight he carried in the London Marathon was far more than pounds and pain; it was the strength of a father's heart, the power of a promise, and a tribute that transformed sorrow into solidarity.

As the sun set over London and Steve stood holding Jacob’s photo aloft, the crowd around him broke into applause. In that moment, one man’s grief had become a shared anthem — proof that even in the heaviest steps, love still runs strong.