It’s not just another marathon — for Charlie Quirke, every mile is deeply personal

The 31-year-old actor is preparing to run the London Marathon later this month, driven by one powerful goal: to make his mum, Pauline Quirke, proud following her heartbreaking dementia diagnosis.

Charlie’s mission goes far beyond crossing the finish line. He is running to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK, hoping to contribute to the search for a cure for a condition that has changed his family’s life forever.

The beloved Birds of a Feather star, now 66, was diagnosed with dementia back in 2021. Her family chose to keep the news private until January last year, when her husband Steve Sheen confirmed she would be stepping away from all professional commitments

Now, Charlie is turning pain into purpose.

Speaking about the emotional challenge ahead, he admitted it will be “a real honour” to take part — but only on one condition. He said he would only feel comfortable running if his fiancée Chloe Thornton and close friend James joined him. When they agreed, the idea for “Team Quirke” was born, quickly growing into a star-studded effort.

Among those lacing up alongside him are Jack O’Connell, who once worked with Pauline on Skins, as well as Luke Roskell, Adam Long, Andrew Knott and  sports broadcaster James Sharman.

And when Charlie shared the reason behind the run, he said every single one of them agreed instantly.

“I just want to make my mum proud,” he said — a simple sentence carrying the weight of everything he’s been through.

The response has been overwhelming. Within weeks, the team smashed their initial £10,000 fundraising target, thanks in part to generous donations from stars like James Corden, who gave £2,000, and Dominic Cooper, who contributed £500. Inspired by the support, they’ve now raised their goal to £15,000.

Charlie described the moment as “incredible,” adding that every penny raised will go towards improving understanding of dementia and helping develop better treatments.

At home, Pauline and her husband will be watching with pride — just like they do every year — only this time, their son will be out there on the course.

And when the race gets tough, Charlie already knows what will carry him through.

“Purely and simply, mum,” he said.

Living alongside dementia, he reflected, is something that changes every day. “It really is different for everyone. Every day is a school day. The more awareness we can raise, the better for all,” he shared.

Then came a line that perfectly captured the moment: “It’s a marathon not a sprint — which feels quite poignant.”

By his side throughout it all has been his fiancée Chloe, a tech strategist at Google DeepMind. The couple met in 2021 and got engaged in Athens in late 2024 — but for now, wedding plans are on hold.

Right now, there’s only one finish line that matters.