Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe Run London Marathon Together In Memory Of Alice And Elsie

Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, two fathers whose daughters were killed in the Southport attack, are preparing to run the London Marathon together in memory of Alice Da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe.

“- Published Two dads whose daughters were killed in the Southport attack said running has brought them so close they have become "like brothers" as they prepare to run the London Marathon together”

BBC

The BBC reported that Alice, nine, and Elsie, seven, died alongside Bebe King, six, in July 2024 when they were attacked at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.

BBC

The BBC said the men both ran last year’s London Marathon separately in memory of their daughters, but this time they are running alongside each other.

GB News likewise described them as having become “like brothers” and said they will take on the 26.2 mile course side by side.

The Mirror also framed the change in their relationship as something forged through training, saying they have become “like brothers” as they prepare to complete the London Marathon together.

In the BBC account, David said: "Last year we ran it as two dads, and this time around we're running it as two friends. We wanted to run it together because of how close we've got."

Sergio told BBC Breakfast that running has helped him on days he does not want to wake up, saying: "You have these kind of days you don't want to wake up and as soon as I go out running afterwards I feel much better so running for me has helped me a lot."

Across the coverage, the fathers described running as a way to process grief and to keep moving toward a goal together.

The BBC said the pair described running as a kind of therapy for them and a way to honour their daughters, and it quoted David saying: "I'm not running to get... faster. I'm just running to get better."

GB News

GB News similarly said the fathers described running as a form of therapy - a way to process the unimaginable grief, and it included David’s line: "I'm not running to get faster. I'm just running to get better."

The Mirror echoed the same idea, saying the pair said running had become a kind of therapy for them and a way to honour their daughters.

In the BBC’s account, Sergio said running alongside David was "very important" to him as he was "like a brother," and David responded: "I feel the same. I say the exact same."

GB News also quoted Sergio describing the bond as something deeper than friendship, saying: "He is like a brother," and it quoted David: "I feel the same. I say the exact same."

The Mirror added that Sergio said he felt a “good connection” with David "from the first moment" he met him and wanted to stay friends with him for the rest of his life.

The fathers’ marathon plans are tied to specific charitable efforts named in the reporting, and the coverage links those efforts to their daughters’ legacies.

“Arabic version:آباء يتحدون في ماراثون لندن لتكريم بناتهم Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, two fathers who lost their daughters in a tragic incident in Southport, are preparing to run the London Marathon together, having formed a deep bond through their shared grief”

Oz Arab Media

The BBC said Sergio ran the London Marathon in 2025 to raise money for a new playground at Alice's school while David was running for the charity set up in his daughter's name, Elsie's Story.

It also said Sergio decided after finishing the London Marathon last year to do six of the world’s major marathons in 12 months for the foundation he set up in his daughter's name, Alice's WonderDance.

The BBC listed that he has gone on to complete marathons in Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo and Boston.

GB News described the same arc, saying Sergio ran last year to raise money for a new playground at Alice’s school and David ran in support of Elsie's Story.

It also said that after completing London in 2025, Sergio set himself the challenge of running all six of the world's major marathons within 12 months for Alice's WonderDance, the foundation he established in her honour.

The Mirror similarly stated that Sergio has gone on to complete marathons in Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo and Boston, with London this weekend completing the set.

While all the accounts center on the same London Marathon pairing, the outlets emphasize different angles of the story, from the “like brothers” framing to the specifics of the emotional and community impact.

The BBC foregrounded the men’s statements about closeness and therapy, quoting David: "Last year we ran it as two dads, and this time around we're running it as two friends," and it quoted Sergio saying running helps him feel better after days he does not want to wake up.

The Mirror

GB News foregrounded the “like brothers” description in its headline and repeatedly used the phrase, quoting Sergio: "He is like a brother" and David: "I feel the same. I say the exact same."

The Mirror also used “like brothers” in its headline and described the men as having become “like brothers” through training, while it included the same David quote about running as friends.

Aligned with those emotional framings, the BBC said the pair described running as a kind of therapy and described their friendship as something they have forged by running together.

The Mirror added that Sergio said he felt a “good connection” with David "from the first moment" he met him and wanted to stay friends with him for the rest of his life.

Oz Arab Media, in its Arabic version, explicitly tied the fathers’ decision to the July 2024 Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop and said, “According toBBC News,” that their daughters were killed in July 2024 during that workshop.

The reporting also describes what the men expect on race day, including who will be watching and how their families and the wider community will participate.

“- Published Two dads whose daughters were killed in the Southport attack said running has brought them so close they have become "like brothers" as they prepare to run the London Marathon together”

BBC

The BBC said that inspired by Sergio and David's running, Alice and Elsie's schools will also be taking part in a mini marathon in London on Saturday.

BBC

It quoted David saying: "I think we've seen the impact that running has had on the kids and the community. It's such a good way for a family to spend time with each other and we're proud of the children."

The BBC also said the pair know that on the day they will have each other, their families supporting them, and Bebe's family on the sidelines to cheer them on.

GB News similarly said Bebe King's family will also be on the sidelines to cheer them on, and it described both men drawing comfort from knowing they will have each other's families around them throughout the day.

In the BBC’s account, Sergio said: "I wish I could see Alice. All the marathons I do, I just think about her."

The BBC concluded with David describing the finish line sense of achievement and Sergio describing their shared plan to “help and support each other, enjoy and have a good time" at this year’s race.