Mum, myeloma, and her marathon mission

For many people, running 26.2 miles is an incredible challenge. But for my mum, who is living with myeloma, it meant even more. This was not just about crossing a finish line. It was about resilience, courage and refusing to let illness define her life. It was also about showing that age does not have to limit you and encouraging more South Asian women to stay active and hold on to their goals.

I have lived every part of her journey with myeloma. Caring for someone you love changes you. It can be exhausting, emotional and overwhelming. But it also teaches you what strength really looks like. Through my mum, I have learned that resilience can be as simple as getting out of bed after treatment, smiling through pain, and putting one foot in front of the other.

When my mum was diagnosed, life changed overnight. Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells and, while it can be treated, there is still no cure yet. Suddenly our lives were filled with hospital appointments, treatment plans, medication schedules and uncertainty. In the beginning, Mum was weak and fragile. She could not walk properly, and exercise - something she had always loved - felt out of reach.

As a carer, I stepped into a role I had never imagined Sometimes I felt helpless. I wished I could take away the pain and exhaustion that treatment brought.

You become the one who notices every change, who worries constantly, and who tries to stay strong because someone else needs you to be. Yet through all of this, my mum continued to amaze me.

Even on the days when treatment left her tired, she found reasons to smile and encourage the people around her. Watching her face such difficult moments with dignity and determination changed the way I see life. It taught me gratitude.

At the beginning of the year, Mum wrote down an intention: to run the London Marathon. It felt almost impossible, especially given her age and health challenges. But if there is one thing I know about her, it is that she does not give up easily.

Training together gave us time away from hospitals and appointments. We talked, laughed, and sometimes walked quietly side by side when energy was low. Bone pain sometimes got in the way, and there were moments when we both wondered if it was too much. But Mum stayed focused on the goal ahead.

I watched for signs of pain and tiredness, and during training those worries never really went away. But I also knew how important this challenge was to her. It became proof that myeloma might be part of her life, but it would not take away her ambition, identity or joy.

The day of the London Marathon is one I will never forget. The atmosphere was buzzing, with thousands of people cheering us on in the heat.

Seeing Mum on the start line filled me with pride. I knew the miles ahead would be tough, but I also knew her strength.

The marathon tested us physically and emotionally. But we kept going, step by step, mile by mile. Sharing that experience with someone you love, after everything illness has put you through, is incredibly powerful.

Crossing the finish line was emotional for so many reasons. Yes, we had completed the London Marathon. But more than that, we had shared a moment of triumph over adversity. For my mum, it represented courage and determination. For me, it represented love, admiration and everything we had faced together as mother and daughter.

Living with myeloma is not easy, and being a carer can feel lonely at times. There are days filled with uncertainty and worry. But this experience reminded me that there can still be joy, achievement and hope alongside illness.

My mum often says that life is about continuing to move forward, no matter what obstacles appear in your path. Watching her live by those words has inspired me more than she probably realises.

To me, Mum is not defined by myeloma. She is defined by her courage, kindness and refusal to give up, even when things are hard. At 75, she continues to show everyone around her what strength really means.

In many ways, the London Marathon reflected the bigger marathon we have been running for years: living with myeloma, facing setbacks, and finding ways to keep going. Myeloma affects around 6,300 people in the UK each year, and every person’s experience is different. But if there is one thing my mum has taught me, it is that even on the hardest days, you keep moving forward.

One step at a time and keep the faith.