London Marathon 2026: Jenny Blowers from Gosport and nurse Lauren Grostate to run for Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

A Gosport cancer patient will be getting in step with her research nurse as they team up for this weekend’s London Marathon.

Jenny Blowers, 38, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2022, after she found what she initially thought was an itchy insect bite. She had surgery and got the all clear, but at the end of 2024, was told that her cancer had returned.

At that point she was referred to The Royal Marsden, under the care of Dr Andrew Furness, a consultant medical oncologist and solid tumour cellular therapy lead.

Jenny is now on a Royal Marsden clinical trial with TIL therapy treatment. This is a type of immunotherapy that harnesses the patient's own immune cells to attack and destroy cancer cells. Scans now show that Jenny’s tumour has shrunk – it was 6cm and is now half the size. She goes to the Marsden every six weeks for treatment.

Jenny and research nurse Lauren Grostate will take on the 26.2-mile course together on Sunday.

Jenny said: “I’m so proud to be supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Knowing that I’ll be fundraising to help support clinical trials like the one which I’m currently on – it makes me really proud. To know that I’m helping other patients like me have these opportunities is amazing.

“My husband took on the London Marathon about 10 years ago and I remember watching him and thinking what an amazing event. I thought one day – I’m definitely going to do the London Marathon – and now that day has come round! If I’m going to do a marathon for anyone, it was always going to be The Royal Marsden. I absolutely cannot fault the care and treatment I’ve had at the hospital. My clinical team, including Lauren, are just amazing.”

Lauren, who is a research advanced nurse practitioner in the renal and melanoma department at The Royal Marsden, is part of the team delivering Jenny’s treatment.

She said: “I’m incredibly proud of Jenny for her determination, resilience and humour throughout her cancer treatment, as well as for taking on the marathon. It will be really special moment to join her on the big day, after our months of training and preparation!

“I’m so pleased to be running in such an iconic event for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, a cause that means so much to me, which does so much to support the research we are carrying out at the hospital and to enable us to give patients the best possible care.”

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money to save the lives of people affected by cancer, and funds research including immunotherapy, the type that Jenny is undergoing.

Lauren’s fundraising page is: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/lauren-grostate

Jenny’s fundraising page is: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/jenny-blowers