It has been just over a month since Phil Parry, Spinnaker’s CEO, took on the London Marathon along with 60,000 of his closest friends. The impact of that day is still being felt across the team and the wider maritime community, although most runners’ legs will have recovered by now and they can walk down stairs again without screaming.

Phil ran with a clear and deeply personal goal, to raise £26,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, £1,000 for every mile of the marathon. Not only did he meet that target, he surpassed it, raising over £30,000 in total.

For Phil, this was not just another fundraising challenge. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a place that became home during one of the most difficult chapters of his life, and ultimately a place that saved the life of his son, Oscar.

That personal connection sits at the heart of everything he does for the OSCAR Campaign.

The OSCAR Campaign, a cause close to home

Since 2011, Phil has been Chair of The OSCAR Campaign, The Ocean and Shipping Community Advancing Children’s Health and Research, an initiative that brings together the international shipping and maritime community to support life changing work at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

Since its inception, the campaign has raised over £3.6 million, helping to fund pioneering research into childhood cancers and immune diseases, as well as supporting and refurbishing vital hospital facilities. The impact of this work continues to be felt by children and families receiving care every day.

It is a powerful example of what can be achieved when an industry comes together with shared purpose and long-term commitment.

The OSCAR Dragon Boat Race

While the marathon was a significant milestone this year, the biggest annual fundraising event for the OSCAR Campaign is the OSCAR Dragon Boat Race, held every September in London’s Docklands.

This event has become a key date in the maritime calendar, bringing together teams from across the industry for a day of competition, teamwork, and fundraising. To date, the Dragon Boat Race alone has raised over £2.7 million for the OSCAR Campaign.

It combines energy, community spirit, and a shared commitment to making a tangible difference.

Looking ahead

Phil’s marathon achievement is a reminder of why the OSCAR Campaign exists, and what can be achieved when personal motivation and collective effort come together.

To find out more about the campaign, or to get involved, including the opportunity to register a team for the Dragon Boat Race, visit our OSCAR page.

The maritime community continues to play a vital role in supporting children and families through the OSCAR Campaign, one mile, one event, and one fundraising effort at a time.