London half marathon medal designed with refugees

The design features Tower Bridge and the Cutty Sark - the race's start and end points

Refugee runners have helped design a medal for finishers of next month's The Big Half in central London.

The Coopah Refugee Run Club, which helps migrants settle into life in the UK through local running groups, helped to create the medal and long-sleeved T-shirt for the 13.1-mile race on 7 September.

The design features Tower Bridge and the Cutty Sark, the race's start and end points, and interlocking rings to represent the diverse journeys of the runners.

Sanaa Qureshi, senior community engagement manager at London Marathon Events which organises the half marathon, said: "Community and inclusivity is at the heart of the Big Half."

'Found a community'

Paul Mwila, 41, who came to the UK from Zambia in 2022, was delighted to be part of the design team.

He said: "We wanted to show how the landmarks connect to our lives, and that no matter what you're going through, difficult times always come to an end."

Mr Mwila is awaiting a final decision on his residency from the Home Office.

"Coopah's run club has kept me afloat during really difficult times," he said. "So many of the experiences I've had are thanks to them.

"I've met so many people, been to new places, and found a community."

Mr Mwila, who lives at a hotel assigned by the Home Office, ran through the streets of Crystal Palace at 04:00 when he first came to London so that nobody would see him.

In 2023, he met someone from Coopah and joined his first group run at Crystal Palace Parkrun.

He ran the London Marathon, his first marathon, in April.

"Running will be part of my life for as long as my legs let me - hopefully a long, long time," he said.

More than 25,000 participants are registered to take part in the Big Half.