Raine Scott Anderson had never run further than 4โ km before she started preparations to take on one of the world’s six major marathons.
Her bravery is not for personal glory, but to honour her mother, Nicci.
The 23-year-old will lace-up her running shoes to participate in the 2026 London Marathon for the first time to raise funds for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) in honour of mother Nicci, who is still fighting the disease.
In an extraordinary leap of faith the Somerset West local just has eight months to prepare for the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April 2026.
The prestigious event attracts more than 500 000 applications annually, but only 50 000 participants are selected โ and Scott Anderson is among them.
“I want to run for the people who can’t run because they’ve either lost their lives to cancer or might not be able to fulfil certain dreams because of their current situation.”
Scott Anderson’s mission stems from her mother’s seven-year battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour, which doctors discovered during a surgical procedure in 2019.
“I was alone in my hospital room when the surgeon walked in and gave me the diagnosis,” Nicci recalled. “He told me it was a very rare form of cancer and didn’t have any answers for me.”
Because of the rarity of the cancer there was limited information about her treatment, for which she would have to leave the country โ a move rendered impossible by the magnitude of the costs.
FORTUNE SMILES ON FAMILY
“At that moment my husband and I were both left speechless. There was nothing we could do, and that helplessness was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to face,” Nicci said.
Fortune smiled on the Scott Anderson family when Nicci was informed that treatment was available in South Africa, including aggressive treatment, and for the past three years she has undergone multiple surgeries.
Through this difficult period Nicci’s strength has been a revelation for her daughter, strengthening their bond.
“No matter what gets thrown in her path she always says: ‘I’m still going to find a way to do what I want to do and make a difference, and I think it’s pretty cool,” Scott Anderson said.
That same determination now drives the young runner to London. Despite being a fitness enthusiast she’d never considered distance running until TikTok influencers sparked her imagination.
When she discovered charity runners could participate in the London Marathon her choice was immediate.
“When I was trying to decide what charity to run for, it wasn’t even a question,” said Scott Anderson.
“My mum has neuroendocrine cancer, and my gran has actually had breast cancer twice.”
The WCRF was founded in England in 1990, providing grants for cancer research worldwide. Since its establishment, the fund has invested over ยฃ145 million in research studies.
Marianne Kellner, an events and community fundraiser at WCRF, said they received between 100 and 200 applications from across the world to join the fund’s London Marathon team.
Scott Anderson’s story and her connection to her mother are inspiring many to take action, run the marathon, and support cancer research and constructive intervention so people around the world can live longer, happier lives free from the disease’s devastating effects.
“Raine, like everyone else who runs for us, is affected by cancer in one way or another,” Kellner said. “Each step of their run, in marathons all over the world, tells the story of their love and determination to make sure nobody has to suffer from a disease that is preventable.”
RESEARCH UNDERWAY
WCRF recently granted funding to Dr Rachel van Leeuwaarde from the Netherlands. Her research investigates the role of lifestyle in neuroendocrine tumours.
“The research Raine is funding saves lives,”
Kellner said.
She also applauded Scott Anderson’s commitment to the cause, adding that the organisation is excited about her coming all the way from sunny Cape Town to wet and rainy London.
Scott Anderson has officially started training for the marathon and has recruited her family as support and trainers. Her father, Alan, rides alongside her as motivation.
“One person told me there was no way I was going to make it because I had started running only a month ago,” she said. “I just looked at them and I was, like, it’s okay if you believe that. But deep down I have never been so sure of anything in my life.”
With that unwavering certainty she faces both the physical demands of training and the financial challenge of raising nearly R60 000 (ยฃ2 500) to compete.
๏ฎTo donate to Raine’s goals, visit: https://events.wcrf.org/fundraisers/rainescottanderson
Follow Raine’s journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainescottt or via TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rainescottt
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