Karaoke runner to sing his way through the London Marathon to help raise money for WaterAid UK

on
15 April 2025
Stuart Taylor, 45, from Lancing, Sussex, will be running this year’s London Marathon wearing a karaoke backpack and singing for 26 miles supporting WaterAid UK
Image: Stuart Taylor

 

Stuart Taylor, 45, from Lancing, Sussex, will be running this year’s London Marathon wearing a karaoke backpack and singing for 26 miles - all in support of WaterAid UK. He’s been documenting his training on both TikTok and Instagram, and says his aim is to bring people together through his karaoke machine.

Inspired by his runs around the South Downs National Park, where he'd frequently find himself bursting into song mid-run, Stuart is combining his passions to take on the London Marathon. 

Stuart, who works as a consultant, has been preparing by singing throughout his marathon training – and adding additional strength training to prepare for carrying his 8kg karaoke backpack around London. He’ll be encouraging his fellow runners to join in on the day and says that there’s something for everyone in his playlist, including a few water-themed songs.  

Stuart has been raising money for WaterAid for the last 25 years, through sponsored mountain climbs, raft racing, and even a previous marathon in Iceland. Most recently he took part in the Brighton Half Marathon fundraising for WaterAid, where he sang karaoke – but this will be the first time he completes a full marathon whilst singing throughout. He said;

“Running and singing bring people together – so it makes sense to me to try and do both at the same time! It’s fantastic how many people love to join in with the karaoke, and I can’t wait to experience this in the London Marathon.  

“I think fundraising like this is the single most helpful way I can contribute to WaterAid, and support increased access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene around the world.”

After the London Marathon, Stuart will be taking a break from karaoke as his wife is due to give birth to their second child in a few weeks’ time. His family will be watching out for him on TV and cheering Stuart on from their home in Brighton.

Jennie York, Executive Director of Communications and Fundraising, said:

“We’re so grateful for all our runners taking part in the London Marathon; it is always a great moment for raising funds and awareness for our life-changing work. Special thanks to Stuart for taking on this unique challenge; his karaoke is a fantastic way to bring people together whilst raising funds to help communities thrive around the world.

“Clean water is the foundation for good health and a life full of opportunity, so the money raised by Stuart really will help change lives.”  

Globally, nearly one in ten people don’t have clean water close to home, and almost one in five don’t have a decent toilet of their own. Every day, more than 1,000 children under five die from diarrhoeal diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.

Change starts with water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, clean water means people can break free from poverty and build the lives they want, with dignity. Babies are born healthier, children grow up stronger, women and girls spend less time collecting water and more time in work or school, and whole communities thrive.

Find out more on Stuart’s JustGiving page ENDS

For media queries, please contact either Lucy Cowie, Senior Media Officer [email protected]

Or call WaterAid’s press line on 020 7793 4537, or email [email protected].

Notes to editors

About WaterAid

WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity. We work alongside communities in 22 countries, setting up entire systems that deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for millions of people. Since 1981, WaterAid UK and its Country Programmes have reached 28.9 million people with clean water, 29.2 million people with decent toilets and 28.7 million people with good hygiene.

For more information, visit our website wateraid.org/uk; follow us on BlueSky @wateraid.bsky.social or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.

  • 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.
  • 2.2 billion people in the world – more than one in four – don’t have safe water.
  • Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.
  • 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.
  • Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 1000 children a day
  • Investing in safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services provides up to 21 times more value than it costs.3
  • Worldwide, women and girls spend 200 million hours every day collecting water

1: WHO/UNICEF (2023), Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: special focus on gender (accessed 11 Jul 2023)

2: WHO (2023), Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update (accessed 24 Jul 2023)

3: WaterAid (2021). Mission-critical: Invest in water, sanitation and hygiene for a healthy and green economic recovery. (accessed 1 Nov 2023).

4: UNICEF (2016). Collecting water is often a colossal waste of time for women and girls. (accessed 09 Jan 2024)

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