Leanne Loney

I’m running the London Marathon 2025 to fight for lung health!

Every minute, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a lung condition. I want to make a difference. I'm running the London Marathon 2025 for Asthma + Lung UK, the only UK charity that fights for everyone’s right to breathe. Every pound I'm able to raise will take us a step closer to a world where everyone has healthy lungs.

Just £22 allows one of Asthma + Lung UK's nurses to answer a call on the Helpline, offering potentially lifesaving advice. I'd be very grateful for any donations you could make!

About me:  I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 20 years old.  I have been able to manage my asthma with medication allowing me to live my life to the fullest with only one major attack needing medical help.  However in December 2022 I got sick.  I had Influenza A that threw me into septic shock.  My husband had to make the choice to save my life and I was intubated and in a coma for 5 days.  Meanwhile bacteria began festering in my lungs causing fluid to build on my lungs.  The doctors assumed it was the pneumonia from having influenza A.  Several days later when things had not improved after I woke up, I was given the gift on Christmas Day of having my left lung drained and a tube in my right.   Not a fun thing to experience when fully conscious.   About 3 days later a tube was put in my left side.   I am pretty much fully recovered now and went on to run/walk the Boston marathon a mere 4 months after I went into a coma.  As you can imagine, it did not go well.  I was not physically ready for it but got myself to the finish line just missing out on an official time.  I ended up signing up for Chicago via charity because of the anger I felt at having my dream Boston ripped away from me.   Chicago proved to me that I could run marathons again and feel good while doing them.  I got back within a normal finish time range for me and ran it over 2 hours faster than Boston.   I continue to live with Asthma and I know deal with long term effects from my hospitalization resulting in occasional lung pain when breathing (especially during the winter months) and I fatigue easier.   

Lung health is so important to me because it has been a huge part of my adult life and will be something I manage for the rest of my life.  Running for Asthma + Lung UK allows me to give back to the UK community which I am honored to do as I run marathons around the world.