“The farthest I have run before is a half marathon, so the London Marathon is a challenge, but I am in training already, even though it’s not until April 2027,” says mum Phoebe, who recruits carers for national home care provider, Walfinch, which is based in Wantage.

Phoebe runs up to five times a week, usually with a friend, and always accompanied by Rosie, her four-year-old Cocker Spaniel.

Phoebe says: “In the care sector, we meet many people affected by osteoporosis, and learning about it has taught me that exercise and diet can help prevent it, and that it’s never too soon to start.  As well as raising funds for ROS, I want more people to know that they can reduce their risk from an early stage.”

ROS is Walfinch’s chosen charity, and last year carers and staff from the whole Walfinch national network raised over £13,000 for ROS.  This year they aim to increase their total raised to £20,000 or more.

Why run for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis causes bones to gradually lose strength, undetected, so many people are only diagnosed when they suffer a fracture.  Half of women over 50 and a third of men over 60 will have a fracture caused by osteoporosis.

Walfinch CEO and Founder Amrit Dhaliwal, who is a Business Ambassador for the ROS, says: “Exercise can slow the loss of bone strength, or even reverse it.  At Walfinch home care we offer all clients physical activity of their choice, alongside care, and we promote accessible physical activity such as chair yoga classes, free of charge, at our free Thrive Clubs we run in local communities.”

Raising awareness, raising motivation

Phoebe says: “I started running as a new mum, as I could leave my son with my husband while I got some activity and fresh air. I always came back a better mum!”

Her two boys now go to an athletics club, and, motivated by seeing their mum running, want to start themselves.  Phoebe says: “William, 7, says he wants to do a 5 kilometre run, while Max, 5, aims for 3k.

“I hope by running the marathon for ROS I will prompt more people to get mobile in whatever way they enjoy, and to realise that osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of getting older, because there are preventions and treatments.”

People of any age can check their risk of osteoporosis by using the Great British Bone Check tool on the ROS website.

Phoebe will begin serious training to increase her distance in the new year, but adds: “Even now the thought of raising money to help fund osteoporosis awareness and research is helping to motivate me.”