Monday, 7 September 2026
Chris Birks catches up with Alek & Marley Trifunovic, who are organising the Derbyshire Rackets Marathon in aid of Cancer Research UK, taking place on Saturday 12 September 2026.
The event brings together 30 racket sport clubs across Derbyshire, covering tennis, padel and pickleball, for 18 hours of continuous play from 6am until midnight. Play passes from club to club throughout the day, creating a unique county‑wide relay as they #keeptherallygoing.
Instead of charging a session fee, participants are encouraged to donate directly to the Marathon’s JustGiving page, with the aim of raising as much as possible for Cancer Research UK. Alek explains how the event is built on the idea of shared experiences — showing that no one faces cancer alone.
Last year’s Derbyshire Tennis Marathon involved 11 clubs, more than 200 participants and raised over £3,000, with early involvement from padel and pickleball. This year, the Marathon has expanded significantly, with 15 tennis clubs, 9 pickleball clubs and 6 padel clubs taking part.
Alek & Marley talk about the inspiration behind the event, the growth of racket sports across Derbyshire, and how listeners can get involved, donate, or follow the relay throughout the day. He also shares details of the Marathon’s Instagram page: instagram.com/derbyshireracketsmarathon.