Max Richards targets £2,750 for charity Bliss and London Marathon finish under 4h 30m
Swindon medical device manufacturer Vygon (UK) is backing one of its senior team members as he prepares to take on the 2026 London Marathon in support of Bliss, the UK charity that helps babies born sick or premature.
Max Richards, the company’s National Sales Manager for neonatal devices, will join 55,000 runners on 26 April 2026, motivated by a cause that closely reflects both his professional focus and his personal experiences.
Max, who lives in Latton, near Cirencester, with his wife Jo and their three children, has spent many years supporting neonatal clinical teams across the NHS. His work with specialist neonatal technologies has given him an insight into the challenges faced by families whose babies need intensive care.
He said: “Running the London Marathon for Bliss means supporting families during the toughest moments of their lives. If we can raise even a little more awareness and support, it’s worth every mile.
He adds: “My wife and I were shocked when we were having our own children, by how many friends needed neonatal services. We were lucky not to need that help ourselves, but their experiences, and what I see in my work, has really brought home how vital Bliss is.”
Bliss supports the one in seven babies in the UK who require neonatal care, offering emotional and practical help at a time when parents are coping with huge uncertainty. The charity relies almost entirely on donations, and Max hopes his run will help them reach more families.
Max completed the marathon in 2025 and is aiming to improve on last year’s time, hoping to finish in under four and a half hours, provided the weather is kind. “Last year was the hottest day of the year, which really affected the run,” he said. “I’d love to get a personal best this time.” His support crew will be out in force on the day, including his wife, children, brother‑in‑law, his best friend and his son.
Training for this year’s marathon has seen Max clock up around 800 kilometres since January, including fifteen half‑marathons, a full marathon, several 30km runs, and one punishing week that totalled 100km.
He has trained across the Cotswolds and on work trips, running in London, along the Northumbrian coastline, and through Middlesbrough, Leeds, Liverpool and Durham.
Max estimates that he has now run the equivalent distance from Swindon to Switzerland during training. “The battle of the mind is the hardest thing to overcome. Staying motivated and sticking to the training plan is challenging through the winter months, but it’s a huge privilege to take part when over 1.3 million people applied for just 55,000 places. I don’t want to waste that by not doing my best.”
Vygon colleagues have helped him on his way, raising more than £700 from a staff cake sale, with the company matching up to £250. “We’re close to £1,000 just from the team at work. It means a lot,” Max said.
In his role at Vygon, Max leads the national strategy for a range of neonatal medical technologies, including Nutrisafe2, Neohelp, Surfcath, and TIVA sets. He is particularly passionate about Nutrisafe2 -the only enteral feeding system in the world designed specifically for neonatal babies.
“There’s a perception that existing systems are ‘good enough’, but Nutrisafe2 changes the conversation,” he said. “It’s designed entirely for neonates and no one else has anything like it. Babies are surviving younger and smaller than ever, and they deserve equipment made just for them. Being able to champion that is a privilege.”
With less than a month to go until the big race, Max says he is most looking forward to the atmosphere on the day. “The journey to the start line is amazing. Everyone is chatting, nervous, excited, all for their own causes. You feel part of something big. Running the marathon last year was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. This year, I want to take it in a bit more and enjoy it.”
Max’s fundraising page can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/max-richards-1
