Jaime Popplewell says she remembered watching the London Marathon on TV growing up and “being transfixed by the runners, their supporters and the amazing atmosphere”.

But she only decided to take up running after being diagnosed with long-term pain condition fibromyalgia (FMS) in 2023 to keep fit and “do everything I could to support my body”.

“FMS does flare up and take you by surprise at times and can be hard to navigate and manage, particularly when training,” she tells C+D.

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“Sometimes my body just says 'no’ and I need to listen to it and rest, but I try to still move as much as possible and be as healthy as I can. This training has also become a personal challenge, something I am proud of.”

Popplewell, who is a systems and applications manager at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust’s pharmacy business unit, is raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, with £1,490 already raised from her £2,500 target.

She says her condition is “nothing like what our patients are going through”, as the Royal Marsden trust is a specialist cancer hospital that supports patients with cancer care and research.

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“I have worked at the Royal Marsden for 30 years and I have seen first-hand, both professionally and personally, the amazing work carried out by the trust. I have a personal connection in that the trust has treated people close to me.

“The support that the trust provides to patients is second to none and witnessing this is humbling. The Marsden is a special place, full of good people and I am proud to work within such an amazing trust.”

Popplewell began working at the Royal Marsden at the age of 17 when she started as a student pharmacy technician, before working up to more senior technician roles at the specialist cancer hospital.

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As she’s told friends, family and colleagues about her fundraising, it’s boosted her motivation to do the marathon after hearing “people’s experiences and connections with the hospital”.

“You see the most amazing things that The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity funds thanks to their supporters, so I decided to get involved in the biggest way ever this year.”

Popplewell says her training is going well and hopes to run the marathon in six and a half hours.

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“Though daunting I am up for the challenge. Undertaking the London Marathon is a dream come true!”

It comes after locum pharmacist Shahid Akhtar ran 300km over Ramadan while fasting to raise money for the people of Palestine, and a Rowlands pharmacist ran the London Marathon for a charity set up after after three girls were murdered in Southport.