Meet Ryan Commerson, the US runner taking on the London marathon for SignHealth! (BSL)

When thousands of runners line up for the London Marathon, everyone has their own reason for being there. For Ryan, who is travelling from Colorado in the United States, it’s about something simple but important: supporting the deaf community and raising awareness for better access to health and wellbeing.

Ryan describes himself in a thoughtful, understated way. He’s a strategist and producer by profession, and an endurance athlete by passion. “I run, bike, swim, and climb long distances,” he says. For him, endurance sport isn’t just physical—it’s also mental. It gives him time to think, reflect, and push himself in a different way.

He was born deaf and is a fluent user of American Sign Language. He’s also currently learning British Sign Language, which feels especially meaningful as he prepares to take on a marathon here in the UK.

Although this will be his first time fundraising for a charity, his connection to the cause runs deep. Earlier in his life, Ryan was involved in activism and saw firsthand how systems that prioritise spoken language can impact deaf people. That can include language deprivation, challenges with identity, and effects on mental health and emotional wellbeing.

After learning about SignHealth and the work they do—particularly as a deaf-led organisation providing health and mental health services—he felt a strong sense of respect for what they’ve built.

“Fundraising is a tangible way of recognising that value,” he explains.

His decision to run the London Marathon also has a personal side. Through work, Ryan has spent time in the UK and built friendships here. Taking on the marathon felt like a way to reconnect with those people, experience London in a unique way, and support a cause that matters to him at the same time.

Training has been steady and focused. He runs six days a week, keeping one day aside for recovery. He started preparing back in December, building strength by hiking in the mountains of Colorado before moving onto road running to get used to the impact of long-distance running on pavement.

This won’t be his first big race—London will be his fifth marathon, and he has also completed a 50K ultramarathon—but it still feels significant.

He admits to some nerves, though not in the way you might expect. It’s less about the distance and more about what the run represents. He’s aware that he’s running for a charity that means a lot to people, in a country that isn’t his own, and he wants to do it justice.

“I do not want to disappoint anyone,” he says honestly.

His goal is to finish the race in under four hours, injury-free, and to raise as much as he can for SignHealth. But beyond that, there’s a wider purpose.

SignHealth is a unique organisation, led by deaf professionals and focused on improving access to healthcare for deaf people. In many places, services like this are still limited, and communication barriers can have a real impact on people’s wellbeing. Supporting that work, Ryan believes, is something that truly matters.

For him, this marathon is one way of doing that—of showing support, raising awareness, and contributing in a practical way.

And once it’s all over?

His plans are refreshingly simple: cross the finish line, hopefully hit his time goal, share the moment with friends, and enjoy a well-earned pint.

It’s a grounded ending to what is, in many ways, a big journey. Travelling across the Atlantic to run a marathon is no small thing, but Ryan’s motivation remains clear throughout.

At its heart, this is about community, connection, and showing up for something that matters. Here at the Limping Chicken, we would like to wish Ryan all the very best!

You can find out more about SignHealth here.