Melissa Hornby

From Tap Shoes to Trainers: Why I’m Running London 2026

I’m running the London Marathon (eeeek!!!) for Asthma + Lung UK because respiratory research is chronically underfunded and this charity is working to change that!

I had my first lung infection when I was 8 months old, and from then on had one every 6-8 weeks. It wasn’t until I was 11 that I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, but even then, there was very little clarity on what it really meant, how it would affect me, or how best to manage it.

Even when the fevers were high, I was never one to sit still. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to dance (didn’t say I was good!). One of my clearest memories as a kid was showing up to my doctors appointments and performing my latest tap dance routines for the doctors and nurses (way too kind of them to put up with that every time lol!). One day, the doctor told my parents, “it’s great she loves to dance - the best thing she can ever do for her lungs is not be a couch potato”. Maybe that’s why I still dance every day, or why running feels so rewarding to me. It’s not always easy - with my breathing often more laboured and training plans not always going to plan because of infections - but I think that’s what makes it feel so empowering.

Having bronchiectasis has looked different at different stages of my life. As a kid, it meant missing quite a bit of school. As I got older, it sometimes meant having to move home from living abroad because I couldn’t access the healthcare I needed, or taking extended time off work due to recurring infections. Before I moved to the UK, my respiratory nurse in Canada assured me that there was nowhere better to be as a person with bronchiectasis - the UK is leading the way in both knowledge and research. She was right! Since moving here, I’ve never once had to explain my condition to a healthcare professional (a refreshing change!) and have learned so much more about bronchiectasis - including that it disproportionately affects women - and how to manage it.

This isn’t something I normally open up about, but if sharing my story helps raise money for this important cause, then I’m in! If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably gathered that this is a cause very close to my heart and I’d be incredibly grateful for your support in helping Asthma + Lung UK continue to play a vital role in advancing research to ensure everyone can breathe a little easier! Thanks for supporting me in running my first marathon, means the world 💜 💜 💜