Race to Paint: Global Street Art Joins Forces with GOSH Charity for TCS London Marathon Mural

Global Street Art (GSA) has collaborated with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity), the Charity of the Year for the 2023 TCS London Marathon, to complete a striking 64 square foot mural within just four and a half hours - the average TCS London Marathon finish time. 

Equipped with a clear vision of how to bring their fundraising efforts to life through art, GOSH Charity worked closely with GSA to conceptualise and design the mural, before handing over the painting to leading artists, Elle Mae Koziupa (@ellespaint) and Nacho Welles (@nachowelles). The time it takes to paint a mural varies - in this case, the momentous effort to complete it in just four and a half hours serves as a reminder of the ongoing race against children’s cancer. 

Capturing the enlivened spirit of the TCS London Marathon alongside the incredible work that Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) provides for children across the UK, the mural positions six-year-old leukaemia patient Sienna Halls centrally in the design. Sienna is just one of the 500 children with cancer being referred to GOSH for treatment every year. The design also pays homage to the people, from nurses to research scientists, who work tirelessly to provide world-class care and support to children and their families.

GOSH treats the highest number of children with cancer in the UK. Through fundraising at the TCS London Marathon, TeamGOSH runners hope to raise £3.5million towards the Build it, Beat it. fundraising appeal for a new state-of-the-art Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH. The centre will care for children with the most complex types of cancers and is designed with the needs of children and families at its heart. It will support every aspect of care, from diagnosis through to remission.

The artwork will be located in Potters Fields Park, overlooking Tower Bridge – a key landmark on the TCS London Marathon route -  with creation of the mural taking place on Tuesday April 18th. 

Liz Tait, GOSH Charity’s director of fundraising, said: “With just days to go, we at GOSH Charity are so excited to take our positions as Charity of the Year for the TCS London Marathon and cheer on our amazing TeamGOSH runners, who are raising funds for a new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH. We are delighted to be partnering with Global Street Art to create a work of art which captures the excitement of race day and celebrates our incredible GOSH families, staff and fundraisers. GOSH patient Sienna who is being treated for leukaemia will be front and centre of this mural, inspiring us all in the race against childhood cancer.”

Dr Lee Bofkin, CEO and co-founder of Global Street Art, commented: “It has been a privilege to pay tribute to GOSH’s inspirational work for seriously ill children with such a positive piece of art. Our artists, Elle and Nacho, are looking forward to completing this brilliant mural in just 4.5 hours, in recognition of GOSH Charity’s race to raise money and help build a new Children’s Cancer Centre for children and families affected by cancer.”