Tower Hamlets GPs inspire at London Marathon

The 2026 London Marathon was an exciting event which featured a World Record – and two Tower Hamlets GPs crossed the finish line and raised thousands for charity on the day.  

Dr Salman Uddin, GP at City Square Medical Group, ran on behalf of the British Heart Foundation. It is a cause which means a great deal to him following an unexpected heart attack at the age of just 34. But five years later he crossed the finish line – and in a personal best time!

He was joined in the race by Dr Kristin Shirke, a GP at Limehouse Practice who ran the marathon on behalf of Lewisham Local, a charity which aims to improve wellbeing in the London borough.

Salman said: “Before the heart attack, I was a keen runner and had completed three London Marathons. Since then, it’s been incredibly difficult to get back into it due to the anxiety I now associate with running.

“However, I've been given the all-clear to run, and my goal has always been to complete another marathon by the time I turn 40...British Heart Foundation is a charity that has been a huge part of my recovery.

"I want to raise money for their vital research, but also to raise awareness about heart disease, particularly in the community that I was raised and now work in. Being a GP in Tower Hamlets is something that I am very proud of, and a community where I want something good to come out of my heart attack.”

Read Salman’s full story and donate here

After the race, Salman remarked how special it was to see the support from everyone across the borough and the city. There were so many people cheering on the runners he struggled to spot his family.  

Incredibly, he ran his personal best – just over five hours – at the race.  

He said: “This was not only to prove to myself that I can get back into running, but to encourage others around me: staff, colleagues and patients. Whether it’s running or something different, you can overcome and work around health setbacks to achieve your goals.”  

Dr Salman is currently working on getting his GP surgery, City Square Medical Group, registered as a Parkrun practice. This supports his aim of encouraging more patients and staff to join the popular Saturday morning 5k run and boost their health at the same time.  

Many more GPs set an example for the community by running locally and competitively, including fellow GP, Dr Kirstin Shirke. For her, the race was a dream many years in the making.  

Kirstin said: “I ran my first marathon at the age of 39, in Paris in 2012. Fourteen years and two further marathons later, life looks very different. Time is more stretched; my body is a little older — but running remains a constant and grounding force in my life.

“Running the London Marathon feels like the right challenge at the right moment. It’s also deeply meaningful to be doing it for Lewisham Local. I’ve lived most of my life in Lewisham, and all four of my children were born at Lewisham Hospital. This borough has shaped my family and my working life.

“Through my work as a GP and psychotherapist, I spend much of my time supporting people who have faced addiction and struggled with their mental health. I see every day how connection, routine and purpose can transform lives — and I know first-hand how something as simple as running can offer hope, structure and a way forward.”

Read Kirstin's full story and donate here

Inspired by their story? Why not start your own running journey and join a local Parkrun in your area.
 
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