From oncology to the finish line: Melanie’s marathon mission
Melanie Bowling, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in oncology at Queen’s Hospital Burton, is preparing for an incredible challenge—running the London Marathon on April 27, 2025. With over 30 years of experience in oncology, Melanie is using her place in the marathon to raise funds for her department. “We’d like to create a dedicated space for patients to be examined in privacy and comfort, away from the busy chemotherapy unit” explained Melanie.
A passion for running and a lucky ballot spot
Melanie has been running since 2019 and trains with the Hermitage Harriers running club in Coalville. She applied for the London Marathon last year but was unsuccessful, so she feels incredibly fortunate to have secured a ballot place this time around. “Everyone in the running club applied for the London Marathon, and I’m the only one who got a ballot place,” she shares. Knowing people who have been applying for over 15 years without success, Melanie recognises how lucky she is and is determined to make the most of it.
Though there’s no obligation for her to fundraise, Melanie felt it was a great opportunity to give back to the hospital she works in. “It’s nice to support your local hospital, as you never know when you might need the care yourself or someone close to you,” she explains.
An adventurous running journey
Melanie isn’t new to endurance events. She completed the Manchester Marathon two years ago and has participated in various exciting races, including the Barcelona Half Marathon, the Palma Running Festival 10K, and even Race the Train—a unique event where runners compete against a steam train! “It’s good to run as a tourist,” she says, appreciating the experience of running in different locations.
Training hard for the big day
Following a rigorous 16-week training program, Melanie is running four times a week with a mix of speed sessions and long-distance runs. She recently completed the Ashby 20 on March 23, as part of her preparation. Training through the winter months has been tough, with early 6am runs in freezing conditions. “It’s been so cold I’ve had frost on my trainers,” she recalls. However, Melanie’s motivation comes from thinking about her patients, “who can’t do this”—which reminds her of how lucky she is to be able to run.
After suffering an injury during the Manchester Marathon, Melanie is approaching race day with caution but remains optimistic. She has joined a London Marathon Facebook group, where she learned a useful strategy—breaking the 26-mile course into landmarks to make it feel more manageable.
Race day excitement and support
Melanie is looking forward to race day and will have her “wing woman,” Rowena, by her side for support, along with members of her running club. She plans to carb-load beforehand to ensure she has enough energy for the challenge. While she knows the run itself will be tough, she’s more nervous about the logistics of the event than the actual marathon! However, she is excited about the atmosphere, which she has heard is “unbelievable.”
We’d like to wish Melanie the very best of luck as she takes on this incredible challenge! If you’d like to support her fundraising efforts for Queen’s Hospital Burton, please visit her JustGiving page via https://bit.ly/mel-bowling.
For those inspired by Melanie’s story and interested in international running events, we’ve partnered with RealBuzz Events, allowing you to combine travel with fundraising. Visit https://bit.ly/internationalevents25 to learn more about the events on offer.
