I’m writing this post on behalf of my girlfriend, who is participating in the London Marathon 2025. She has Beta Thalassemia Intermedia and is proudly sponsored by UKTS for the run. Her goal is to raise awareness for this rare condition, which affects just over 2,000 people in the UK.
We’re reaching out to the running and climbing community for support in spreading the word. Neither of us has done anything like this before, so we’re learning as we go.
You can read more about Beta Thalassemia here:
👉 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/beta-thalass...
I did some research into the correlation between oxygen-carrying capacity in mild to moderate anemia and the equivalent altitude that a person without the condition would experience—and the results were quite interesting.
📸 See the attached photo/table below.
My first question is:
How accurate do you think the table is regarding oxygen equivalence and altitude?
And my second question is more of an ask:
Can anyone guide us, or introduce us to someone in the mountaineering or running community, who might help her gain more exposure and visibility for this run?
There’s understandably a lot of attention on conditions like cancer, which affects nearly 400,000 people in the UK, but far less awareness of Beta Thalassemia.
She is raising awareness of just how vital blood donors are to people like her who rely on regular transfusions.
Many people believe blood is needed only in surgery and emergencies, when in fact, around two thirds of the blood donated in England is used to treat medical conditions including anaemia, cancer and blood disorders like thalassemia.
She deserves recognition and support for attempting such a huge challenge while living with a condition that directly impacts her oxygen delivery—and therefore her athletic performance.
Her condition is functionally similar to someone running at high altitude, around 4,500 meters—comparable to training on Mont Blanc or the Andes.
She ran 20 miles at 5:40 min/km pace last Sunday on a social run and believes she can complete the marathon just under 4 hours—an incredible achievement under the circumstances.
Any help, advice, or connections would be deeply appreciated. We’re open to suggestions on how to get the right kind of attention and where to start.
Thank you so much in advance!
