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The Guardian World1 min read
Southport dads: 'Running for our girls has made us like brothers'
TL;DR
Two dads, Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, who lost their daughters in a tragic attack, are running the London Marathon together, having formed a close bond through their shared grief.
Key points
- Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe lost their daughters in a tragic attack.
- They are running the London Marathon together to honor their daughters.
- Their bond has grown so close that they consider each other like brothers.
- Sergio ran for a playground at Alice's school, David for Elsie's Story charity.
Mentioned in this story
Sergio AguiarDavid StancombeAlice Da Silva AguiarElsie Dot StancombeBebe KingElsie's Story
Two dads whose daughters were killed in the Southport attack said running has brought them so close they have become "like brothers" as they prepare to run the London Marathon together.
Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, died alongside Bebe King, six, in July 2024 when they were attacked at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.
Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe both ran last year's London Marathon separately in memory of their daughters Alice and Elsie - but this time they are running alongside each other.
David said: "Last year we ran it as two dads, and this time around we're running it as two friends. We wanted to run it together because of how close we've got."
Sergio ran the London Marathon in 2025 to raise money for a new playground at Alice's school while David was running for the charity set up in his daughter's name, Elsie's Story.
The pair said running had become a kind of therapy for them and a way to honour their daughters.
Sergio told BBC Breakfast: "You have these kind of days you don't want to wake up and as soon as I go out running afterwards I feel much better so running for me has helped me a lot."
David said: "I'm not running to get... faster. I'm just running to get better."
By running together, they have forged a close friendship and are doing the 26.2 mile (42 km) race together this time around.
Sergio said running alongside David was "very important" to him as he was "like a brother".
David said: "I feel the same. I say the exact same."
Sergio said together they would "help and support each other, enjoy and have a good time..." at this year's race, as well as honouring their girls.
He said he felt a "good connection" with David "from the first moment" he met him and wanted to stay friends with him for the rest of his life.
Sergio and David both said the other had been a big support.
David told Sergio: "I don't think you realise how much you have helped me."
After finishing the London Marathon last year, Sergio decided to do six of the world's major marathons in 12 months for the foundation he set up in his daughter's name, Alice's WonderDance.
He has gone on to complete marathons in Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo and Boston.
David said he was "very proud" of Sergio's achievements.
"I think what he's done is incredible, I certainly couldn't do it, going from one marathon to another."
He said when Sergio gets his sixth major medal, "I'll be the first one to clap".
With Sergio the more experienced marathon runner, they were asked if David would keep up.
Sergio joked: "If he goes faster than me, I'm going to hold him."
"That's never going to happen," David replied, adding they have come to an agreement. "If Sergio slows down, I'll speed up," he laughed.
Q&A
What happened to the daughters of Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe?
Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed in a July 2024 attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.
Why are Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe running the London Marathon?
They are running to honor their daughters' memories and to raise funds for causes related to their daughters, including a new playground and a charity.
How did Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe's relationship change after their daughters' deaths?
They have become very close friends, describing their bond as being 'like brothers' due to their shared experiences of loss.
What charities are associated with the London Marathon run by the dads?
Sergio is raising money for a playground at Alice's school, while David is supporting a charity named Elsie's Story, set up in memory of his daughter.
