Running a marathon is the latest challenge for father of three Cameron Swan.
Four years ago, Cameron moved from Australia to the UK with his wife and three children.
Cameron has a passion for the great outdoors and enjoys hot sand and blue water one month and snowy mountains the next.
"I love the beach, and I love skiing. I like the two extremes."
Running is Cameron’s latest challenge, and in 2026, he’ll be taking on the London Marathon and fundraising for Fight for Sight. Last year, when he ran his first marathon in Paris, he swore he’d never run another.
Cameron is running alongside friends Matt and Amy Tait, parents from his children’s school. Cameron and Matt met on a dad meet up where they hit it off immediately and over the years, their friendship has grown.
Matt is living with a degenerative eye condition and is gradually losing his sight.
"When Matt said, ‘I want to run it before my eyesight gets worse will you do it with us?’ I thought, I can’t say no!” Cameron says. “It’s amazing that he’s training for a marathon when he’s legally blind. There are hurdles most of us don’t even think about. Marathons are not about pace or time for me, it’s about who I’m running with."
A personal motivation for running the marathon
Cameron hadn’t heard of Fight for Sight before Amy ran for us last year. But watching her fundraising and seeing first-hand the impact of sight loss through Matt’s experience made it personal.
“If I’m going to put myself through that torture again,” he smiles, “it has to be worth it.”
Eye research remains critically underfunded. Yet breakthroughs only happen because people step forward, to raise money, to raise awareness, to move the dial.
“Most big medical breakthroughs that have happened in our lifetime have happened because people volunteered, fundraised, and pushed for change,” Cameron reflects. “If you're not suffering and you don't need the support, the least you can do is support those that do.”
The power of community
Ask Cameron what will get him through all those miles, and he doesn’t mention personal bests.
“The energy on the day is infectious. You don’t want to let anyone down. And when someone next to you says, ‘You’ve got this,’ it’s incredible how powerful that is.”
His three children will be there, armed with handmade signs and carefully mapped-out cheering points. In Paris, they tracked him around the course, passing him electrolytes and high-fives.
“I might have looked horrendous but they made me feel like I could keep going.”
When the inevitable “dead zone” hits, those tough miles when the finish still feels far away, the fact that everyone is pushing through the same wall is what will keep Cameron going.
“We’re all feeling it at the same time. That’s empowering.”
Silence, soundtracks and stubborn determination
Cameron trains to a family playlist curated by his children, part fitness, part bonding exercise. But for his longest runs, he listens to something unexpected… Nothing.
No music. No podcast. No headphones.
“It’s the only time I completely switch off. We’re always connected. Running without noise feels powerful.”
Corporate backing. Global support.
Cameron isn’t just leaning on friends and family. He works in media and advertising an industry known for rallying behind good causes.
“I’ll be ringing that bell hard,” he laughs. “Short, sharp and focused. No one needs to hear about it for 12 months, but for three months? We can make some noise!”
From school quizzes to international fundraising pushes spanning the UK, USA and Australia, Cameron is drawing on every network he has.
Finish lines and fresh starts
What is he most looking forward to?
“The vibes,” he says immediately. “The energy. It’s electric.”
And taking off his shoes and never looking at them again.
Every step Cameron takes helps fund research into prevention, treatment and cures. Every pound raised supports projects designed to deliver equity and opportunity for people living with sight loss.
