Trailfinders Staff and Trustees Preparing for Ealing Half Marathon

Will be raising funds for the club's charitable foundation

Participants in walking rugby at Ealing Trailfinders

September 17, 2026

Ealing Trailfinders staff and trustees will be taking on the Ealing Half Marathon later this month, running in support of the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation and the people whose lives have been shaped by its work. Among them is Peter, a regular at the club’s Walking Rugby sessions, whose story has become a reminder of what community sport can mean at moments of profound personal difficulty.

Peter, who is undergoing cancer treatment, says the weekly sessions at Trailfinders Sports Club have become the anchor that keeps him going. He first discovered walking rugby after spotting it on the club’s website and decided to give it a try. It quickly became part of his routine, but his diagnosis forced him to stop for nine months while he underwent treatment. As soon as he was able, he returned to the pitch. “I had a PICC in my arm, but once that was gone, I was right back into it,” he said. “It’s really helped me a lot.”

Walking rugby is one of many programmes delivered by the club’s Community & Foundation team, whose work ranges from helping children discover sport to supporting people with disabilities, bringing older residents together to combat isolation, and creating spaces where people feel welcome and connected. For Head of Community Ian Isham, the impact of these sessions is often clearest in the quiet conversations that happen afterwards. “When someone tells you how much being a part of something we may otherwise take for granted means to them, it stays with you long after the session finishes,” he said. “Having people to talk to, being welcomed and knowing someone is pleased to see you — those things matter enormously.”

The club will extend that ethos across Ealing Half Marathon weekend, which coincides with Trailfinders’ first home fixture of the season against Richmond. As headline sponsors of the Trailfinders Ealing Mini Mile, they will help hundreds of children enjoy being active together, while staff and trustees — including Ian — will run the half marathon to raise money for the Foundation’s community projects.

For Peter, the support he has found at the club goes far beyond the sessions themselves. He speaks warmly of the friendships he has made and the kindness shown by players and staff. “Regardless of if you come down on a matchday or any other day, the club is just so friendly,” he said. “You meet and chat with the players and they’re just so supportive. I don’t boast or talk much about my problem, but they’re always there for you.” He recalls bumping into player Jordy Reid, who immediately asked how he was keeping and how his treatment was going. “That’s what it’s like,” Peter said. “It’s brilliant.”

Donations to the Ealing Trailfinders Foundation help support the projects that make experiences like Peter’s possible. By backing the club’s runners in the Ealing Half Marathon, supporters can help ensure more people across the borough have a place to belong, people to turn to, and something to look forward to each week.

The Foundation’s JustGiving page is available for anyone wishing to support the team’s efforts.

The Wizz Air Ealing Half Marathon celebrates its 15th year in 2026. The main race takes place on Sunday 27 September, with the Trailfinders Ealing Mini Mile on Saturday 26 September. The Race Village is based in Walpole Park.