Pauline Quirke’s son has turned heartbreak into determination, sharing a deeply moving glimpse into what he called an “emotional and beautiful” day after completing the London Marathon in honour of his mother.

Charlie Quirke, 31, ran the gruelling 26.2-mile race alongside “Team Quirke” — including his fiancée Chloe Thornton and close friends — to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK following his mother’s devastating dementia diagnosis.

The beloved Birds of a Feather star, now 66, quietly stepped away from the spotlight after being diagnosed in 2021 — a moment that changed everything for her family.

A run driven by love — and a promise

Charlie didn’t just run for charity — he ran with purpose.

Speaking ahead of the race, he admitted he wouldn’t have taken on the challenge alone. He explained that he only felt comfortable doing it if Chloe and James were by his side, calling them the two people closest to him. Once they agreed, the idea of forming “Team Quirke” quickly took shape, and when friends heard the reason behind it, they instantly signed up.

At the heart of it all was one simple, emotional goal: he said he just wanted to make his mum proud.

“Tough is an understatement”

After crossing the finish line, Charlie shared a series of heartfelt moments from the day — including a celebratory kiss with Chloe and a proud group photo with his team.

Reflecting on the experience, he wrote that the London Marathon was completed, adding that “tough is an understatement,” but he was incredibly proud of what they had achieved together and grateful for a special day spent with loved ones, all in support of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Smashing targets — and aiming even higher

What started as a £10,000 fundraising goal quickly turned into something far bigger.

Charlie and his team smashed that milestone early, pushing donations beyond £11,000 — and then raising the bar to £15,000 in hopes of making an even greater impact.

Support poured in from famous friends, including James Corden, who donated £2,000, and Dominic Cooper, who added £500 to the cause.

A journey that began long before the finish line

This isn’t Charlie’s first act of dedication.

In a previous challenge, he walked 140km over five days, raising an astonishing £175,000 for dementia research. That emotional journey even saw support from fellow actors like Mathew Baynton and Tom Glynn-Carney, who joined him along the way.

Throughout it all, Charlie retraced meaningful locations from his mother’s life — turning every step into a tribute.

This time, as he ran through the streets of London, the message remained just as powerful: behind every mile was a son refusing to give up hope — and doing everything he can to honour the woman who inspired it all.