London Marathon stories
Every year at the London Marathon we are so lucky to be able to create a sea of green with so many people running for Macmillan and raising vital funds for people living with cancer. Here we introduce you to three of those people taking part this year.
Kimberley's story
“I found the lump one Friday evening. By Monday morning I was in a GP surgery, and I could tell from the nurse’s face that it wasn’t nothing. I remember still trying to convince myself it would all be okay… that we’d go back to normal.”
“When I was told it was cancer, I honestly couldn’t process it. I kept thinking about my children, my plans, the life we were meant to be living. My husband’s sister had also had cancer and passed away from a subsequent brain tumor the same year, so there was this immediate fear of what the future might look like. I cried a lot, I worried about dying, I worried about leaving them, I worried about money but every time my husband picked me up.”
“Chemotherapy was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. I was so unwell at times I could barely walk, I lost my appetite completely, and I was terrified of what was happening to my body. There was one moment during treatment when my heart rate shot over 200 beats per minute and I was blue lighted to hospital. I truly thought I wasn’t going to make it home to my family.”
“I just remember my sight going and everything was black and machines were beeping like crazy, I could hear my mum crying and I just thought I’m going to die, this is it. That day will forever be with me as I was so close to dying, not due to the cancer itself but due to a reaction to the chemotherapy. The medicine that is so vital for recovery but also poison to your body.”
“I remember looking in the mirror during treatment and not recognising myself. I felt so far from the person I used to be.”
“But I got through it because of my family. My husband never stopped believing in me. My boys were incredible, even on the days I had nothing left, I was still ‘mum’, and that kept me going. My friends, my mum, my wider football family… they all carried us through in different ways.”
“Now, I’m in remission. And I’m running the London Marathon.”
“There were times I couldn’t walk upstairs without help, or needed my son to hold me steady while I walked the dog. So to now be training for 26.2 miles feels surreal. Emotional. Like a second chance I don’t take for granted. It's not often in life when your mobility is taken that you get it back, so now I have it back, I want to show my boys I am strong and I can do anything I set your mind to.”
“I’m running for Macmillan Cancer Support, who supported me through some of my darkest days, from sitting with me during chemo when I cried, to giving me the mental health support I so desperately needed when I was scared of dying.”
“Every mile I run now feels like something I once thought I’d lost, strength, hope, and life.”
“If I can do this after everything I’ve been through, then maybe it shows someone else that they can get through it too.”
Lee's story
“Sadly, we lost my brother Jamie to colorectal cancer in March 2024 after a four-year struggle. He fought with such strength and bravery, enduring chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and major surgeries, all while bringing up his two young boys.
“Jamie was loved by everyone who knew him. His resilience and bravery were so admirable to all of us. Jamie was my only sibling, so our children have grown up to be the best of friends. Jamie’s boys are an absolute testament to him, and I really want to make them proud on the day too.
“Jamie is forever 40, and 2026 is the year of my 40th birthday, so I want to run this as a tribute to him.
“Taking on this challenge is one of the best decisions I could have made. It has brought comfort to our family, his friends, and even brought our local community together.
“Running has helped me so much over the last couple of years. Getting out of the house and clearing my head has been a coping mechanism and has really helped me through my grief. Emotionally, it’s been a rollercoaster, but thinking of Jamie’s experiences motivates me to keep going. Whenever I find myself struggling, I remind myself that nothing will compare to the pain and emotional distress Jamie, and so many others, have had to endure.
“Jamie’s first year of treatment was during the pandemic, which made everything even harder with isolation and reduced services, but Macmillan were there every step of the way. He built a close bond with his specialist nurses, who supported him and his family with coping mechanisms and emotional care. They treated him with dignity and respect, even in his final weeks. I cannot express enough how grateful we are for their support, which is why I wanted to fundraise and raise awareness for such an amazing charity.
“Having seen what Jamie went through, my outlook on life has changed. Life is unpredictable, and you never know what awaits you, so embrace each day, cherish every moment, and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Seeing my friends and family after I finish will be the highlight for me, they are what keeps me going.”
Devon's story
“I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in September 2024.”
“I was about to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats with a couple of friends. I wasn’t expecting the diagnosis at all, as I’d had no symptoms, so it came as quite a shock. It was picked up during an MRI on my head for a separate issue; they noticed some lumps in my neck and referred me via the two-week wait process for an ultrasound with ENT.
“I found out about the cancer after a follow-up biopsy. Two consultants explained the cancer and the treatment process, and then a nurse took me through the Macmillan resources, answering my many questions about surgery, follow-up treatment, and the support available. I was really grateful to have that support, and to be able to follow up with further questions.
“The run-up to surgery felt daunting. It felt like a big operation, and I was uneasy about the incision in my neck. But I also found it really hard knowing how and when to communicate the diagnosis to my friends and family. “Cancer” is a big word and can trigger very different reactions in different people.
“My close friends and family were amazing. On that cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats over 12 days, I told them on day one, and they were incredibly supportive. It was a big physical challenge but gave me space to process everything. We even laughed about giving my thyroid one last tour of the UK before it was removed.
“Having a contact at the Macmillan Centre (shout-out Gill!) who I could call and email with random questions was huge for putting my mind at ease. Knowing the wider support available meant I wouldn’t be struggling alone.
“It’ll be my first road marathon and probably the busiest running event I’ll ever do.
“Recovery after surgery was difficult physically, limited movement and then a week of radioactive iodine where I was stuck inside, isolated and so far from “normal” life. So to be out running marathons a year later feels amazing.
“I’ve really enjoyed the fundraising side of being part of Team Macmillan — I feel motivated to train well and finish proudly
"Writing my fundraising page really made me reflect on how far I have come and how lucky I am to be on the other side of my cancer journey.”
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