Surrey woman running London Marathon less than a year after undergoing treatment for deadly cancer

This year Leukaemia UK’s runners include a young woman from Surrey who, after having to defer the challenge last year to undergo life-saving treatment for leukaemia, is running only months after finishing treatment.

In May 2024 Alice Bolton was living in Melbourne, Australia, and working as an emergency care doctor alongside her now-husband, Hayden.

Originally from Surrey, Alice was enjoying her working year abroad ahead of returning to the UK for GP training – but things took a turn for the worse when she noticed her energy levels dropping.

“I was training for the Great Ocean Half Marathon and all was going well. Then one week I was able to run 20km but the next I was struggling to run 5km,” said Alice.

“I also noticed swollen lymph nodes in my neck and bruising on my legs so thought I should get a blood test as I suspected I had a viral illness like glandular fever.”

Alice had the blood test at the hospital where she worked.

“Within hours of my test, the doctor called me and said I needed to go to A&E immediately. I said, ‘actually I’m already there’ as ironically, that’s where I was working my shift,” Alice recalled.

On May 16, 2024, Alice was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a fast growing, aggressive blood cancer which needs urgent treatment.

Every year almost 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with AML, and nearly 80 per cent of those diagnosed will not survive beyond five years.

“When I received the news, I was in complete shock,” said Alice.

“I’d never had a patient present with it, but I knew the prognosis wasn’t good. Thankfully Hayden was there with me, so I wasn’t alone.”

Alice’s parents, Penny and Charles, and sisters, Kate and Emma, all flew out to Australia and stayed with her during intensive chemotherapy.

After her first round of chemotherapy, Alice was strong enough to return to the UK, where she continued chemotherapy in London. By October 2024, she was in remission.

Throughout her recovery, Alice rebuilt her strength through running. Inspired by their journey, Kate and Emma signed up to run the 2025 London Marathon for Leukaemia UK and as Alice’s health improved, she decided to join them.

However, a routine test in March 2025 revealed that Alice had relapsed.

Alice’s dream of crossing the London Marathon finish line with her sisters would have to be put on hold.

Alice was told she would now need a stem cell transplant as part of her treatment. Miraculously, both Kate and Emma were perfect matches — an exceptionally rare occurrence with only a six per cent likelihood.

“When we found out, it felt like magic,” said Kate. “It reaffirmed the deep bond we’ve always had.”

Determined to hold onto their positive energy, Alice and her sisters held a stem cell donor reveal celebration, with a cake revealing that Kate would be the one to donate her cells.

On May 28, 2025, Alice received her stem cell transplant.

“We were altogether when Kate’s cells dripped into Alice and of course, we celebrated this rebirth with another cake!” said Emma.

Miraculously, Alice was discharged from hospital only 15 days later. Alice continued her recovery at home, even celebrating the 100-day anniversary of her stem cell transplant – and her birthday – with her family and friends.

She is now in remission but continues to attend regular follow-up appointments and bone marrow biopsies.

Alice has since started her GP training, which she had to put on hold when she received her leukaemia diagnosis.

Alice and her husband Hayden have also moved into their first home together in London, and between redecorating and enjoying London life again, she has been training to run the London Marathon for Leukaemia UK.

“I’m calling it my redemption marathon. After having to withdraw from the Great Ocean Half in Melbourne when I was diagnosed, and the London Marathon last year because I relapsed, this one feels even more special,” said Alice.

“I will be forever grateful for the continuing research into AML and will raise awareness both for this disease and stem cell transplants. New treatments for leukaemia are being discovered all the time. We are in a golden age of cancer treatment and research, and I want to do all I can to help others benefit from it.”

Kate and Hayden will also be running the London Marathon and they all plan to cross the finish line together.

“Alice’s leukaemia diagnosis has deeply shaped all of us and we will continue to do all we can to raise awareness of leukaemia, and support charities like Leukaemia UK whose work helps people like Alice. Alice will be smashing every mile of that marathon just like she has smashed the milestones post stem cell transplant. We can’t wait to cross that finish line together with the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen!” said Kate.

Every day, 28 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia. Its symptoms can include fatigue, fever, unusual bruising or bleeding, and repeated infections. Only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis.

Hanna Chorley, community and challenge events manager at Leukaemia UK, said: “We are so grateful to Alice and to all of our amazing runners taking on the London Marathon for us. We cannot wait to cheer them on! With the help of incredible supporters like Alice, together we can continue to fund groundbreaking research into kinder, more effective treatments for leukaemia.”

Leukaemia UK hopes its supporters’ dedicated efforts will raise around £140,000 to fund more research to stop leukaemia devastating lives. The charity will have a cheer point for its 56 runners on the iconic Tower Bridge.

To find out more visit www.leukaemiauk.org.uk.