Anoosheh and Simon’s shared promise leads to marathon to raise funds for Hostage International

Anoosheh Ashoori dreamt of running the London Marathon throughout the five years that he was arbitrarily detained in Evin prison.

Determined to keep fit in body and mind, Anoosheh spent hours training in the exercise courtyard before being released in March 2022 – in time to run the London Marathon that year. He has now run it every year since his homecoming, each time raising money for two charities which supported him and his family throughout his incarceration, Amnesty International and Hostage International.

This year, at the age of 71 and for the fourth year in a row, he will do it again – but with a new twist. A promise, made while Anoosheh was still incarcerated in Evin, between Anoosheh and Simon Shercliff, is becoming a reality. Simon was the British ambassador to Iran during Anoosheh’s final few months in prison and was involved in negotiating his release; the two have become lifelong friends as a result of this connection.

Anoosheh said: “I met Simon in my darkest days of arbitrary detention, never sure if I would ever be free, but I tried to remain hopeful and was determined to keep my dream of freedom alive.

“When we first met, I’d mentioned that I’d been keeping fit by taking the opportunity to run at any chance I had when I was allowed.

“I shared my goal of running the London Marathon and Simon promised me that if I made it home then we could run together, in solidarity.”

This year is the first opportunity for the duo to run together, after Simon returned from his posting in Tehran in July 2024. He quickly dusted off his trainers to start getting ready for the marathon.

He said: “Anoosheh is an extraordinary individual – he has been an inspiration to so many of us even if we cannot imagine the hardships he went through. We made this promise during a difficult situation that brought us together, and which binds us together for the rest of our lives. So I was determined to make it come true.

“The first thing that I did when I saw Anoosheh after my return home to the UK was to remind him of our promise.

“This whole endeavour gives us a chance to enjoy the fun things that freedom has to offer, while remembering how it all started. Raising awareness and money for those who are affected by cruel and arbitrary detentions and hostage-taking, wherever they may be, is sadly a critical and enduring need.”

“This year’s marathon is our first opportunity to run together and we are grateful to the organisers of the London Marathon who have helped make this a reality.”

Simon added: “Anoosheh and I have a shared and abiding commitment to supporting the valuable work of Hostage International; we are delighted to have the opportunity to raise more money for this amazing charity.”

Please give what you can via their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/anoosheh-and-simon

WATCH THEIR VIDEO HERE