Former Bicester military man to run the London Marathon wearing a full firefighters kit in memory of three people killed in a fire at Bicester Motion last May.

Chris Dabell will run the 26.2m (42km) race around London’s roads on Sunday, April 26, wearing full kit to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

Through local events and fundraising pages he has so far raised more than £20,000.

While running in kit, which weighs around 20kg and includes boots, breathing apparatus and helmet, he will remember the lives of three people who lost their lives in the Bicester Motion fire on May 15, 2025.

Firefighters Martyn Sadler, 38 and Jennie Logan, 30, alongside member of the public Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the blaze that engulfed the business park last year.

Chris Dabell laid on the grass after running in a full firefighter kit (Image: Chris Dabell)

Mr Dabell, who served as a communications engineer in Army’s Royal Corps of Signals for 15 years, knew firefighters Sadler and Logan through his chairmanship at Bicester Rugby Club at the time of the event.

A Just Giving page set up by the club last year raised more than £57,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity.

He said: “When Martyn and Jennie paid their sacrifice it was really heartfelt in the club so much so that I stepped down shortly after because I found the role too difficult after that.”

He proposed the race idea to the charity which was “greatly accepted”.

He said: “I knew I wanted to do something to honour the fire service to show what our service personnel do and what better way to do it.”

Chris Dabell taking part in Bicester Park Run as part of his London Marathon training (Image: Chris Dabell)

Since he started training in June he has in various locations across the country, including in Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes and London.

He has covered seven half-marathons, almost 92m (148km), and progressively built his distances up to his longest run of 20 miles two weeks before the race.

Chris Dabell at Tesco Superstore event in Bicester, which raised £13,000 and saw him complete seven-hour, 113-mile combined run and bike with Chris Brummell, Sadler’s brother-in-law (Image: Chris Dabell)

“I have not found any of the training a chore, he said, “It’s been a joy and pleasure and I’ve gone out excited because I have the motivation behind it.”

He has been supported by communities in Oxfordshire, including in Bicester, Didcot and Wantage, through community fundraising events and Park Runs.

Chris Dabell and Chris Brumnell at Tesco Superstore event in Bicester, which raised £13,000 and saw him complete seven-hour, 113-mile combined run and bike (Image: Chris Dabell)

His most recent event at Tesco Superstore in Bicester raised £13,000 and saw him complete seven-hour, 113-mile combined run and bike with Chris Brummell, Sadler’s brother-in-law.

His training was also fuelled by the loss of his father in October, who was also a former military man.

He said: “It’s had its ups and downs as I am not a young spring chicken anymore, and I certainly feel certain aches and pains take longer to recover, but it has given me the headspace to focus my mind on what really matters while off the beaten track.