The Countess of Wessex takes part in the Virtual London Marathon in support of her patronage

The Countess of Wessex took part in the Virtual London Marathon on Sunday as she joined runners in Windsor Great Park.

Her Royal Highness joined Tomas Cardillo-Zallo, a runner who has a learning disability, to run part of his 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon route in support of the UK’s leading learning disability charity Mencap.  

Sophie, who has been Patron of Mencap since 2004, ran 1.5 miles with Tomas to represent the 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability and help raise awareness of the charity’s cause to change attitudes for the better. 

Tomas is one of 312 Mencap runners – including 10 runners with a learning disability – who completed the 26.2 miles challenge today. 

Changes to this year’s plans because of COVID-19 meant that runners ran, jogged or walked a 26.2-miles route of their own choice over a period of 24 hours, rather than the original circuit past the capital’s monuments. Only elite runners took part in this year’s organised  event through St. James’s  Park in London.   

The Countess of Wessex said: “It was an honour to join Tomas even just for a small part of his triumph today, as he completes the virtual London Marathon in support of Mencap.

“Tomas has shown what people with a learning disability can achieve with the right support – he is an inspiration.”