Kirkby Lonsdale Student Completes Marathon Despite Type 1 Diabetes
A Kirkby Lonsdale student has completed a 26.2-mile marathon to raise money for charity and show that Type 1 diabetes need not limit his ambitions.
Marley Newton-Ham, 17, is a Year 12 pupil at Queen Elizabeth School. He took on the challenge in support of Young Lives vs Cancer, having initially planned to run five kilometres every day throughout June. His friend Finn Keeler had invited him to join the fundraising campaign, but Marley decided to go further and attempt a full marathon.
Marley, who lives in Tunstall in the Lune Valley, has received care from the Paediatric Diabetes Team at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2022. He was admitted to hospital after becoming increasingly unwell and spent several days learning how to manage the condition and administer insulin.
The marathon presented particular challenges because Marley had to monitor his blood glucose levels throughout the run. He explained that when his readings dropped, he and his supporters worked together to bring them back up so he could continue. He said managing his diabetes was one of the main concerns during the physically demanding challenge.
His best friend Ben Brassington ran alongside him for the entire distance, while another friend, Mitchell Hoyes, accompanied them on a mountain bike. The route began in Caton, continued towards Lancaster and Glasson Dock, then looped back through Lancaster before finishing near the Crook o’ Lune.
Marley used bananas, flapjacks, energy gels and glucose supplements to help maintain his energy and blood sugar levels. His parents, Laura and Luke, brother Leo, grandparents and other relatives and friends also supported the effort by following his progress, bringing supplies and encouraging him along the way.
He praised the hospital team for helping him build the confidence to continue running, travelling and taking on new challenges. He particularly thanked dietitian Paul Dunstan for helping prepare him for the marathon, adding that the family had been able to contact the team whenever they needed advice.
Suzanne Jackson, a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse at the trust, said completing a marathon while managing Type 1 diabetes required considerable planning and determination. She said Marley’s achievement demonstrated what young people could accomplish with the right preparation and support, adding that the team wanted children to feel confident pursuing the activities they enjoyed.
The trust's Paediatric Diabetes Team supports children and young people across Lancashire and South Cumbria. Its multidisciplinary staff include specialist nurses, consultants, dietitians, a clinical psychologist and a patient navigator. The team also works with families and schools to help young people manage their condition safely.
The team is also raising awareness of Type 1 diabetes symptoms following an increase in diagnoses since the Covid-19 pandemic. Jackson warned that delayed diagnosis can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening emergency, and urged parents, schools and communities to recognise symptoms early so children can receive timely treatment.
Marley described the marathon as one of the most emotional experiences of his life and said it had given him a major confidence boost. He hopes to run the London Marathon when he is old enough and plans to continue travelling, taking on challenges and helping others.
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