The TCS London Marathon has seen plenty of memorable runners over its 46-year history. This April, it adds one more: Daddy Pig.
The rotund, cheerful dad from the children’s cartoon Peppa Pig will run all 26.2 miles through London on April 26, raising money for the National Deaf Children’s Society. He’ll do it in real life in a specially designed running costume, and the whole thing will also feature in an upcoming episode of the show.
The storyline follows a significant moment for the franchise: George Pig, Peppa’s little brother, was recently revealed to be moderately deaf.
The fundraising target has a meaning
Daddy Pig’s goal is to raise £54,000 — a figure chosen deliberately to match the number of children in the UK currently affected by hearing loss. It’s the kind of detail that turns a fun PR stunt into something worth paying attention to.
Daddy Pig won’t be running alone. More than 50 runners from the National Deaf Children’s Society will be on the start line with him, including parents of children with hearing loss. If you’re training for your first marathon, you’ll know how much that kind of community support matters on race day.
George Crockford, CEO of the National Deaf Children’s Society, welcomed the campaign: “Every penny they raise helps ensure we can be there for more deaf children and their families when they need us most — whether that’s providing one-to-one guidance through our Helpline, campaigning for lasting change, or offering specialist local support.”
A real family running alongside a cartoon one
Among those runners is Jack Harrison, a dad from Stoke-on-Trent whose 17-month-old son George was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss at just three weeks old.
“The National Deaf Children’s Society became our lifeline,” Harrison said. “I’m no runner, and training alongside full-time work and three kids is pushing me to my limits — and I expect Daddy Pig feels the same! — but it’s absolutely worth it to support a charity that means so much to us.”
His son’s name, as it happens, is also George. If that doesn’t make you want to sign up for a marathon, not much will.
On the day
Runners and spectators will be able to track Daddy Pig’s progress using the official TCS London Marathon app, where donations can also be made. A Peppa Pig Fan Zone will be set up along the course, and the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus — parked on Jamaica Road — will offer themed food and drinks, sign-making stations for spectators, and a DJ.
Ruedilyn Cox, Director of Global Franchise Strategy at Hasbro, confirmed that Daddy Pig has been training with a celebrity coach — though that coach has not yet been named. Whatever their advice, preparation is everything for a first-time marathon runner, fictional pig or otherwise.
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, made a point worth noting: “Hearing loss and deafness are disabilities that too often remain hidden, so we’re excited to support Daddy Pig as he shines a light on something that affects so many people. Like thousands of others taking part in this year’s TCS London Marathon, this will be Daddy Pig’s first-ever marathon, and we’ll be with him every step of the way.”
That’s true for every first-time marathon runner — the crowds, the support, and arriving at that finish line make the months of staying motivated through training more than worth it.
The weekend around it
The day before, on April 25, the whole Peppa family will appear at the TCS Mini London Marathon in St James’s Park, the UK’s largest one-day children’s sporting event. There’ll be themed warm-ups, meet-and-greets, and a fan zone. The National Deaf Children’s Society will also be on site to speak to families about childhood deafness.
The episode where Daddy Pig runs the marathon airs on Milkshake from April 18, giving kids just enough time to get invested before race day. Whether you’re watching at home or lining the streets of London, it’s shaping up to be one of the more unusual — and genuinely moving — storylines the weeks leading into marathon Sunday have ever produced.
And if Daddy Pig can get round 26.2 miles, frankly, the rest of us have no excuse. Check out our complete marathon training guide or, if you’re starting from scratch, our couch to marathon plan to get started.
