In a touching tribute to one of Britain’s most beloved charity fundraisers, the son of the legendary Lloyd Scott – famed for his extraordinary costumed marathon feats – is preparing for his debut at the TCS London Marathon.
Lloyd Scott became a national treasure for stunts like completing the 2002 London Marathon in six days while wearing a deep-sea diving suit. He has also run marathons dressed as movie characters including Indiana Jones and Brian the Snail from the Magic Roundabout. Now, his 31-year-old son, Luke Scott, is stepping into the racing spotlight against the backdrop of his father’s rare cancer journey.
Having raised millions for charity through his costumed endurance challenges across the globe, the elder Scott, now 63, has faced his toughest challenge yet: surviving synovial sarcoma, which required radical surgery and has left him able to speak only with the aid of an electrical device. Luke’s first marathon represents a continuation of an inspiring family legacy of determination and service.
Lloyd has taken part in endurance races across California’s Death Valley, the Sahara Desert and the Himalayas, trekked the North and South Poles, and climbed Kilimanjaro. He holds a number of Guinness World Records and was awarded an MBE in 2005.
Lloyd, a former firefighter, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1987 and needed a bone marrow transplant in 1989. He ran his first London Marathon in 1989 as part of a fitness regime to prepare him for the transplant. But, in 2021, Lloyd had cancer for a second time. He had an operation to remove a large tumour from his throat, which he did not know was cancer at the time. He was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma and had gruelling radiotherapy. There is an average of just 79 cases of synovial sarcoma diagnosed every year in England.
Scans came back clear until June 2022 when the cancer returned, and he had a 13-hour operation in August that year. Surgeons had to cut the lower part of his face away and peel it back, saw through and break his jaw to remove the tumour’s surrounding tissue. A skin graft was taken from his arm and put in his mouth and throat, which needed to be reconstructed.
Further extensive surgery in 2024 saw Lloyd undergo a laryngectomy, meaning that he now breathes through a neck stoma. Lloyd’s recovery saw him fitted with a laryngectomy stoma, which means he can only speak with the aid of an electronic device.
He is now cancer-free, but after also having a sarcoma removed from his leg in 2024, he suffered a leg infection, which has complicated his recovery.
Lloyd, from Theydon Bois in Essex, keeps himself occupied at home by reading, finishing his book, called The Slowest Man in the World, and by building a large Lego Batman skyline model, to which he has added lighting and put in a presentation case. He donated it to the children’s ward at the Stanmore Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, one of the hospitals that has been treating him. An Indiana Jones model is next on his list!
Luke says his father has shown remarkable spirit through all his adversity. ‘I don’t know where he gets the resilience from. His attitude is so optimistic, and he continues to fight.’
Never having run a marathon before, Luke, 31, an IT engineer from Basildon, will take part in the London Marathon on 27 April and is running for charity Sarcoma UK.
He said: ‘This marathon is about so much more than just running 26 miles. It’s a tribute to my Dad’s strength, the brilliant surgeons who’ve helped him, and everyone who faces sarcoma with courage. Maybe this first marathon will kick something off, and I will end up doing extreme challenges to match my Dad.’
Sarcoma UK’s Director of Fundraising and Communications, Kerry Reeves-Kneip, said: ‘Lloyd Scott’s extraordinary marathon feats in outlandish costumes made him a national treasure, raising millions for charity while capturing the public’s imagination. It’s heartbreaking to see how synovial sarcoma has affected this once larger-than-life figure who conquered the London Marathon in a deep-sea diving suit and climbed Kilimanjaro.
‘We’re immensely grateful that his son Luke has chosen to run for Sarcoma UK, continuing his father’s legacy of determination and compassion. With increased investment in research, we can develop more effective treatments for rare cancers like synovial sarcoma, ensuring heroic individuals like Lloyd receive the life-saving care they deserve.’
To donate to Luke, go to https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/lukes-first-marathon?updated
