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75-Year-Old Beats Blood Cancer to Conquer London Marathon
17 Mar
Summary
- A 75-year-old woman will run the London Marathon after overcoming blood cancer.
- Her marathon attempt was cut short a year ago, leading to her diagnosis.
- She will run with her daughter, fulfilling a lifelong ambition.
Pritpal Kaur, a 75-year-old Londoner, is preparing to run the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, fulfilling a lifelong ambition. This comes after a challenging year where her 2023 marathon attempt was cut short due to cramping, which preceded a difficult diagnostic journey.
Initially experiencing fatigue and back pain, Pritpal faced several months of navigating the healthcare system. Her symptoms were initially dismissed as age-related. However, persistent issues led to further investigation, and in September 2023, she was diagnosed with myeloma, a blood and bone marrow cancer.
After undergoing chemotherapy and bone-strengthening treatments, Pritpal achieved remission by March 2024. Her daughter, Minreet Kaur, was inspired by her mother's resilience. Minreet ran the 2024 London Marathon to raise funds for Blood Cancer UK and also founded a running group.
Pritpal has since recovered her strength, and with a spot allocated in February 2026, she is now training with her daughter for the upcoming marathon, using a run-walk strategy known as 'jeffing'. They aim to complete the race together.
