Actress Lisa McGrillis will run the TCS London Marathon alongside her best friend Mary Cann in memory of Mary’s husband, Nigel Cann, who tragically passed away from a heart attack last year.
Running for a cause
Lisa McGrillis, best known for her role as Valerie Jones in Rivals, will take on the 26.2-mile challenge on 27 April to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Her close friend Mary’s husband, Nigel Cann, suffered a fatal heart attack in May 2024 at just 47 years old. The unexpected loss has left a deep impact on those who knew him, and the marathon has become a way for them to channel their grief into something positive.
Speaking to the PA news agency, McGrillis said:
“The thing is with grief, which I’m learning all the time, there’s nothing anyone can say or do to make the situation any better, so this has really been my way of supporting Mary.”
A lifelong friendship
McGrillis, 42, and Cann have been best friends since childhood, having grown up in Carlisle.
“Mary and I both grew up in Carlisle. We were at different schools but we met through a mutual friend when Mary was 11 and I was 12. We have really been best friends ever since.”
Despite now living in different countries, the pair have remained incredibly close, and the marathon has given them a shared focus.
“The marathon has been a really amazing way to stay connected to her. We check in every day, the training and having this huge feat ahead of us has been a really brilliant way to sort of support Mary and be on this journey with her.”
A sudden loss
Nigel Cann, described as a charismatic and much-loved man, died suddenly after putting his two young daughters to bed and heading out to play padel tennis in Abu Dhabi, where the family lives.
“The shock of it was like being hit by a truck. There were no warnings, he hadn’t been unwell,” McGrillis recalled.
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Nigel, a huge Liverpool fan originally from near Manchester, was deeply loved by his family and friends.
“He was such an incredibly funny and charismatic man. I’ve never known a more loved man than Nige. He left such a lasting memory on everyone. He was one of those people who walked into a room with an energy. He was so charismatic and such a lovely daddy. His girls adored him.”
His motto in life, “If anyone Cann, Nige Cann”, has now become the inspiration for their marathon run.
The challenge of training
Only three weeks after Nigel’s death, Mary expressed her desire to run the London Marathon.
“When you see someone at that stage of their grief, when they are so exhausted and weak, I couldn’t even imagine walking let alone running. She was like ‘I want to do it’ and I was like ‘Right, ok, I’m going to make it my mission to get us into the London Marathon’.”
Neither of them had experience in long-distance running before starting their training, and the journey has been far from easy.
“Marathon training, I never realised how all-consuming it is. I just thought it’s fine, you just put on a pair of trainers and go out for a jog and then the jog gets longer and you get stronger and fitter. But it’s so much more complicated than that.”
McGrillis has endured several injuries along the way but remains determined to cross the finish line.
“Now I just want to get round.”
Supporting the British heart foundation
The British Heart Foundation is dedicated to researching and preventing heart disease, which remains one of the biggest causes of death in the UK.
Statistics from the BHF reveal that:
- Heart and circulatory diseases cause 26% of all UK deaths, equating to more than 170,000 deaths per year.
- 480 people die each day from these conditions, which is one every three minutes.
- Around 49,000 people under 75 die from heart and circulatory diseases each year.
- Twice as many people in the UK live with heart and circulatory diseases than with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease combined.
Since its establishment in 1961, the number of deaths from heart and circulatory diseases has fallen by nearly half, thanks to advancements in research, treatment, and awareness.
A race for hope
McGrillis’s husband, actor Stuart Martin, and their children Joshy, 8, and Cleo, 4, will be among a large group of supporters cheering them on.
The actress believes their efforts will make a meaningful difference:
“Supporting BHF just made complete sense because of the fact that Nigel had had a heart attack. Mary said ‘If we can raise money just to help one family not have to go through what we’re having to go through, then it will be worth it.’”
As race day approaches, McGrillis remains focused on one thing—being by her best friend’s side.
“Mary’s grief is different to my grief. What I want to be able to do, and what my goal is, I just want to be able to run with her. I want to be able to be next to her when she’s doing it, be her support, and that’s what my goal is. I hope I can keep up with her. We’ll have to see on the day.”
The London Marathon will not only be a physical challenge but also a tribute to a much-loved husband, father, and friend—one who will never be forgotten.
