On April 26, 2026, thousands will run the TCS London Marathon. For three runners, the day means far more—they’re running for family, remembrance, and hope.
For actor Luke Macfarlane and his partner Hig Roberts, along with Hig’s siblings Cassady and Dylan, every step continues a legacy.
This April, their family will run the London Marathon and raise their voices in honor of their late brother, Murphy, who passed away from type 1 diabetes (T1D) complications.
For them, this race has a deeper significance: It’s a tribute.
It’s a promise.
And it’s a call to action.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Murphy Roberts was just 11 years old when he was diagnosed with T1D. Before then, his family had little firsthand understanding of the disease. After his diagnosis, everything changed.
Like so many families, the Roberts quickly learned that T1D does not affect just one person—it changes the rhythm of an entire household. There are blood sugar checks, sleepless nights, constant vigilance, and the awareness that it is a disease that must be managed 24 hours a day.
The family rallied around Murphy from the beginning while also working hard to protect his independence. He learned early how to advocate for himself at school, at ski practice, and in daily life. And through it all, he refused to let T1D define him.
A Life Full of Adventure
Murphy loved Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and everything mountain life has to offer— skiing, biking, hiking, rivers, trails, and long days outside. His older brother, Dylan Roberts, describes him as a “classic Steamboat kid,” someone known and loved across their close-knit community.
Cassady remembers her younger brother Murphy as spontaneous, adventurous, funny, and fiercely determined—someone who would disappear onto a trail or get caught up on a bike ride simply because he loved being out in the world. Hig recalls how physically driven and goal-oriented Murphy was, always up for a challenge and often taking things one step further than everyone else.
That spirit is something his family still carries with them today.
Turning Grief into Purpose
In one cherished family memory, Murphy jumped into Cassady’s first marathon to run beside her and cheer her on to the finish—an image that now feels especially fitting as his family takes on this year’s London Marathon in his honor.
“He wanted to support his sister and get her to the finish line,” Dylan said. “That’s one of the final memories I have of Murphy.”
Years later, that support has come full circle.
When Hig, Cassady, and Luke decided to run the London Marathon with the Breakthrough T1D Run team, they saw it as a meaningful way to honor Murphy while helping create a future where no family faces the same loss.
“Running a marathon is hard, and the training takes a lot of time,” Cassady said. “But it’s a tangible way to raise money for something that really mattered to Murphy and is improving the lives of people like him.”
Luke, who has a family connection to diabetes research through his grandfather’s friendship with Sir Frederick Banting, says supporting this cause felt natural from the start. Becoming part of Hig’s family gave that connection new meaning.
“The more I’ve gotten to know Dylan, Cassady, and their mom and dad, so much of them is shaped by the loss of Murphy,” Luke said. “I’m very grateful to be part of it and to help honor his memory and keep his name alive.”
Breakthrough T1D Run is More Than a Race
By joining the Breakthrough T1D Run team in the London Marathon, the Roberts family and Luke are helping raise critical funds and awareness to accelerate progress. The Breakthrough T1D Run program unites runners around the world who believe every mile can help fuel breakthroughs.
Participants run in major marathons, community races, and personal challenges—all with one shared goal: creating a future where type 1 diabetes no longer exists.
Every mile a runner logs helps power research, advocacy, and support for the millions of people worldwide living with T1D.
For Hig, Cassady, and Luke, those miles honor Murphy’s memory and carry his spirit forward.
Finding Community
Hig says being around runners who live with T1D is both humbling and inspiring.
“To really see firsthand how people who are living with this disease tackle something as crazy as a marathon is incredibly eye-opening,” he said. “It makes me feel very close to Murphy.”
As Luke sees it, the marathon is not only a physical challenge but also a reflection of resilience itself.
“When it gets really hard,” he said, “I just sort of go, ‘Wow, this is hard,’ but keep going.”
That mindset resonates deeply in the T1D community, where perseverance is part of everyday life.
And that is one reason this run means so much to the family—they are joining a community that understands that every mile can help power progress.
Join the Movement
Cassady, Hig, and Luke are running for Murphy, and for breakthroughs that improve life now—and for the cures we still need. As the London Marathon nears, the family hopes their journey inspires others to take action.
Whether it’s running, donating, or sharing their story, every effort helps move our mission forward—because this is more than a race. It’s a movement, and every mile brings us closer to cures.
