Our volunteering stories: TCS London Marathon 2026

Every year, the London Marathon brings together thousands of runners, supporters, and volunteers for a day that’s as much about community as it is about endurance. Behind the scenes and along every mile of the course, volunteers play a vital role in creating the unforgettable atmosphere the event is known for. 

Two members of the Rosterfy team share their personal experiences of volunteering at this year’s marathon – a glimpse into the impact, energy, and stories that made this record-breaking day so special.

Sam Bennett, Volunteer Systems Consultant at Rosterfy

I volunteered with the wonderful Marie Curie team at their Mile 15 cheer station in Canary Wharf. At Rosterfy, we’ve been lucky enough to partner with Marie Curie this year, at an exciting time for the charity as they were awarded ‘Charity of the Year’ for the London Marathon 2026. 

Marie Curie does so much incredible work supporting end-of-life care. It was emotional on the day watching over 700 people run for the charity (on track to raise close to £2m!), many of whom were running in honour of relatives who have received support from Marie Curie. There were so many amazing personal stories and displays of strength.

When I signed up to volunteer in the cheer squad, I thought to myself  ‘this is the same as what I’d be doing anyway – I always go and cheer people on at the London Marathon when I can’ – but actually, it was so much more than that. I got to meet lots of friendly faces on the cheer station, and we made a huge amount of noise and encouragement when a yellow and blue Marie Curie top came down our stretch. You could see how much it meant to the runners.

It was a really special day and atmosphere. If you’re looking to meet friendly people, have fun, and restore your faith in humanity, I’d hugely recommend getting involved!

Chris Dobson, Strategic Account Executive at Rosterfy

I have attended the London Marathon as a spectator a number of times, and from the sidelines had seen the volunteers play an important part – either operationally or creating the best atmosphere for the runners. This year I wanted to get a bit closer to the action, help out where I could and also see Rosterfy in action.

I was stationed at the Volunteer Check-In near the marathon finish line. My role was to welcome volunteers as they arrived and scan their QR code in the Rosterfy system. If all was ok, I would direct them to collect their uniform and meet their team leaders.

Everyone was so friendly! The London Marathon team have developed a seamless experience for volunteers and try to make everyone welcome. I loved meeting people from all walks of life – in particular friends, sporting clubs and community groups who had come along to volunteer together. 

It blew me away the sheer size of the event. All of the infrastructure, operations, logistics and participants – and volunteers play a huge role in making it successful, often behind the scenes. It was great to see how LME value the volunteers for the part they play, and how proud volunteers were to be involved. Professionally, I was also happy to see the Rosterfy system in action and working so well. I got to see firsthand how Rosterfy makes the experience that much better – for both volunteers and admins.

The diversity of people involved showed me that the benefits of volunteering at the London Marathon can be varied and multi-faceted. Whether it’s to learn more about how events are managed, providing a greater experience for the runners or being part of a team – the London Marathon is a great weekend to be a part of!