Hannah Gavios fell off a cliff in Thailand while trying to escape an attacker – years later she has achieved a remarkable feat
A woman who fell 150ft off a cliff trying to escape an attacker in Thailand has now managed to complete the London Marathon despite her horrific injuries.
Hannah Gavios was being chased when she fell and suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury.
A psychotherapist from the New York City borough of Queens, the 33-year-old took up marathon participation after her injury to prove that her disability would not stop her achieving her ambitions.
Almost 10 years on from her accident, London marked her first marathon outside of New York.
Through pain and perseverance, she inspired others living with spinal cord injuries to believe anything is possible. Hannah said: “There’s always a way. Anything you set your mind to, you can accomplish.”
She wasn’t alone in being one of the many heroic final finishers on Sunday. By also completing her first TCS London Marathon, Taiwo Fabusiwa turned a long-held dream into reality with the support of four participants pushing her wheelchair.
Living with cerebral palsy, Taiwo, a business administration apprentice from Croydon, South London, took on the marathon to show others with disabilities what is possible.
The 26-year-old, who was encouraged to enter by a colleague, said she was grateful for the crowd’s energy that carried her through.
Taiwo said: “If I can do it, you can. Get support around you and just do it, it is a wonderful thing to be part of.”
Meanwhile, Luke Escreet from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, ran in memory of his nan, Lynne, while raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The 37-year-old had completed several half marathons before taking on his first full marathon as both a personal mission and tribute.
Driven by grief, training and crowd support, he pushed through ‘the wall’ at mile 20 to reach the finish.
The marathon honoured the charity that supported his nan during her cancer treatment and marked a deeply emotional achievement.
Luke said: “As long as you get over the finish line, that’s the goal. It’s just amazing to see what everyone has achieved.”
The inspiration trio were among the last runners to the finish line that got a hero’s welcome.
With only 1% of the world’s population ever completing a marathon, the event’s official energy bar partner CLIF Bar say they believe in supporting, fuelling and celebrating every participant.
A dedicated CLIF Bar Support Team stayed with the final participants on the course, providing encouragement and vital motivation through the final miles.
London’s James’ Park, which is open for finishers after 7.30pm, was packed with enthusiastic volunteers from both CLIF Bar’s community and the Team Finish Together group.
Marketing director at CLIF Bianca Harvey said: “For us, the ‘true endurance champions’ are often the final finishers.
“CLIF Bar was born on a 175-mile bike ride, so we have a deep, personal understanding of what it takes to dig deep and persevere.
“Our purpose isn’t just to fuel a race, but to fuel that incredible human spirit of triumph and personal accomplishment.
“That’s why we are immensely proud to champion these participants and celebrate their monumental achievement at this year’s TCS London Marathon finish line.”
Shreena Kotecha, from Team Finish Together, said: “Witnessing the sheer joy and emotion on the faces of these participants as they crossed the line, knowing they had an entire community cheering them on, was truly inspiring.
“It’s powerful to see them being celebrated as the endurance champions they are and it reminds us that the marathon is about more than just speed – it’s about courage, community, and achieving something extraordinary together.”