On Sunday 11 October 2026, 23 members of Circle Development completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon, taking on 13.1 miles through central London to raise funds and awareness for The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK. What began as a physical challenge became a shared experience that brought our team closer together, strengthened our commitment to wellbeing and supported a cause with the potential to change lives.
With a fundraising target of £30,000 and The Loizias Foundation committed to matching every pound raised, our team rallied colleagues, clients, friends, families and industry peers to support vital research into autoimmune diseases and opportunities for the next generation of scientists.
Donate here to support The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK
A cause that brought us together
For some of our team, the cause was already close to their hearts. For others, it was an introduction to conditions and charities they had previously known little about. Before training began in earnest, we welcomed Michael Loizias, founder of The Loizias Foundation, to our London office to share his personal journey.
Diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in November 2024, Michael spoke openly about his experience of living with a rare autoimmune disease, the challenges he and his family have faced, and the urgent need for greater investment in medical research. His story was both compelling and emotional, bringing home the reality that serious illnesses can affect anyone, including people whose struggles may not be visible to those around them.
As Joe Cutler, Group CEO at Circle Development, reflected:
I was inspired by hearing Michael’s journey of being diagnosed and living with PSC, and motivated to help raise awareness and funding to work towards a cure for PSC.
Supporting The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK gave us an opportunity to contribute to research that could make a meaningful difference to people living with PSC and other autoimmune conditions, while helping fund scholarships for future scientists.
Early starts, shared miles and a stronger team
At Circle, we place considerable importance on the wellbeing of our people, encouraging an active lifestyle, time outdoors and opportunities to connect beyond our day-to-day work. We’re no strangers to a sporting challenge, whether it’s a competitive game of padel, football or another team activity, there’s always a healthy appetite for getting involved and a little friendly rivalry.
With many colleagues already cycling into work, heading to the gym or taking part in sports before the working day, replacing those individual routines with a shared morning run felt like a natural next step. Throughout the summer, our team met before work, often setting off at 7am to run through central London, passing some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, including Buckingham Palace.
The early starts weren’t always easy, but the brighter mornings, good company and shared determination made the miles more enjoyable. Week by week, the distances increased, confidence grew and the team found its rhythm. We were also particularly grateful for the office showers!
The training created opportunities for colleagues across different teams and disciplines to spend time together, encourage one another and build relationships away from their projects.
Different starting points, one shared achievement
Among our 23 runners were experienced athletes, colleagues who had previously represented Circle in charity events and others taking on their very first running challenge. For those new to running, preparing for a half marathon required considerable commitment, consistency and determination. Watching their progress, from their first training sessions to completing 13.1 miles, was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
Erika Salvitti, Clerk of Works at Circle, had never run before March 2026. For her, the challenge was both personal and deeply meaningful.
I had two reasons. First, it was a personal challenge: before March ’26, I had never run before and wanted to see if I could do it. Second, I’ve always wanted to get more involved in fundraising. I’ve lost people I loved to illnesses with no cure, and I wish there had been one.
For Erika, one of the biggest rewards was seeing the strength she had built through running week after week, reflecting the personal progress and confidence gained throughout training.
For our more experienced runners, the event also offered an opportunity to test themselves, with a little healthy competition adding to the motivation. As Sally McConchie, Project Manager at Circle, shared:
It was a great experience to run with the team to raise money for a cause that is not widely known and therefore increase its awareness. As a naturally competitive team it was a great opportunity for some friendly rivalry.
Several runners achieved new personal bests, while others celebrated completing a distance they had never previously attempted. We’re incredibly proud of every member of the team.
The energy of race day
After months of preparation, race day brought everything together. Wearing our bright blue Loizias Foundation T-shirts with pride, Team Circle joined thousands of runners making their way through London’s Royal Parks, each with their own personal motivation and cause to support.
From the crowds lining the route to the encouragement of friends, families and complete strangers, the atmosphere was incredible. The support made an enormous difference when the miles began to feel challenging, and crossing the finish line was an achievement worth celebrating.
Sam Haralambous, Senior Project Manager at Circle, captured the experience:
There’s a really special feeling in running for something bigger than yourself and backing such a brilliant cause.
Sam also spoke about being interviewed by JustGiving and the pride she felt in raising awareness of PSC Support and the importance of funding research. Inspired by the atmosphere, she went on to achieve a personal best.
Going further for a cause that matters
While completing the Royal Parks Half Marathon was a significant achievement, the purpose behind our participation extended far beyond the race itself. Throughout the experience, our team helped introduce The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK to new audiences, raising awareness of autoimmune conditions and the challenges facing those affected.
Our colleagues reached out to friends, families, clients and industry peers, who responded with generous donations, messages of encouragement and support on race day. We are hugely grateful to everyone who contributed, whether by donating, sharing our fundraising efforts, joining us for training or cheering from the sidelines.
Dan Orban, Senior Clerk of Works at Circle, summed up why events like this matter:
At the end of the day, it’s not just about running. Behind these events are charities doing amazing work, bringing people together to support and raise money for those who really struggle in their day-to-day lives.
With The Loizias Foundation matching every pound donated, our £30,000 fundraising target has the potential to generate £60,000 towards research, scholarships and future scientific breakthroughs.
The experience reflects something we value deeply at Circle: caring for our people, supporting one another and making a positive contribution to the wider community. From the commitment shown throughout training to the generosity of everyone who supported the cause, we’re incredibly proud of what our team has achieved together.
Congratulations to Team Circle
A huge well done to all 23 runners who took on the challenge: Adam Golbourn, Aled Williams, Alex Alba, Charlie England, Dan Orban, Dean Wittering, Dillon Carson, Emma McFarland, Erika Salvitti, George Morgan, Jack Hoyle, Joe Cutler, Josh Broughton, Josh Cridland, Khubaib Ruhani, Lana Tulgara, Lloyd Thomas, Peter Christmas, Phil Swainston, Rupert Pelly, Sally McConchie, Sam Haralambous and Scott Wilson.
Thank you for your dedication, determination and team spirit throughout the experience, and to everyone who supported us along the way.
The race may be over, but our fundraising continues.
It’s not too late to support Team Circle and help us reach our £30,000 target. Every pound donated will be matched by The Loizias Foundation, doubling its potential impact.
Donate here to support The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK
Thank you for backing the team.
We Keep Moving Forward.
