Sports · Running & Athletics · 2 hrs ago
Toronto runner seeks hospital-gown marathon record while raising cancer funds
Toronto runner Brandon Throop will race the Toronto Waterfront Marathon for a third time in 2026, aiming to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon in a hospital gown.
He is raising money for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, linked to the centre where he was treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022.
Throop says Princess Margaret Cancer Centre saved his life; he has been cancer-free for more than three years.
Running helped him rebuild his strength and reconnect with his life after treatment.
His main goal is fundraising and cancer research, with the record attempt a bonus.
Tecumseh, Ontario, runner Evan Ubene holds the record at 2:50:12; Throop ran 2:55:59 in 2023 and 2:55:01 in 2024.
Throop has raised more than $137,000 toward his $150,000 goal through fundraising programs that let him direct donations to research.
He plans to make the attempt in Toronto, where the 2026 marathon falls near the anniversary of his first chemotherapy treatment.
Toronto runner Brandon Throop is returning to the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon to pursue the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run in a hospital gown.
His main goal is to raise awareness and funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, which is connected to the centre that treated him.
Throop was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022 and has been cancer-free for more than three years.
He has raised more than $137,000 toward his $150,000 fundraising goal.
The current record is 2:50:12, set by Evan Ubene at the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
- Who
- Brandon Throop, a Toronto runner and cancer survivor.
- What
- He is attempting the fastest marathon in a hospital gown while raising money and awareness for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
- When
- At the 2026 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
- Where
- Toronto, at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
- Why
- To support the foundation connected to the cancer centre that treated him and to pursue the world record.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Throop was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and received his first chemotherapy treatment at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Evan Ubene set the hospital-gown marathon record of 2:50:12 at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Throop ran the marathon in 2:55:59 in his first record attempt.
Throop ran the marathon in 2:55:01 in his second record attempt.
Throop is returning to the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon for a third record attempt and fundraising drive.
- Runner
- Brandon Throop
- Fundraising goal
- $150,000
- Raised so far
- More than $137,000
- Current record
- 2:50:12, held by Evan Ubene
- 2023 attempt
- 2:55:59
- 2024 attempt
- 2:55:01
What people are saying
I’m always trying to grab the record, but first and foremost, fundraising and awareness are most important.
It feels right to set the record in Toronto.
I’ve been a lifelong runner, and I just love the process of it and the work.