Runner completes marathon in mum's memory despite lung condition

A mother who contracted pneumonia at 14 and suffered lasting damage to her lungs has completed a marathon in her mum's memory.

Following her diagnosis, Claire Smith from Dudley caught sepsis, suffered a collapsed lung and was put in a two-week induced coma.

She was diagnosed with bronchiectasis – a condition where the airways in the lungs are damaged and produce a lot of phlegm. She said the damage causes her to suffer up to a dozen infections a year.

However, Smith, 38, eventually took up weightlifting, then running, completed a 50km trek across the Sahara desert and completed the London Marathon in April, despite only having 50% lung function.

"If I'd let this defeat me, my lungs could be in a very different way right now and I probably wouldn't be the active mum that I am," she said.

"I want to have a good future with my children and I want to run around with my grandchildren."

Smith's pneumonia started with flu-like symptoms in early 2002, before she was hospitalised after becoming delirious and lethargic.

"I only really remember the paramedics coming in and carrying me down the stairs," she said.

She needed the help of a physiotherapist to walk again, and stayed in hospital for a month before being home-schooled for six months.

Her mum, Margaret, remained by her side and was a constant source of support.

After her diagnosis Smith said she had struggled to exercise due to near constant chest infections and a fear of breathlessness.

She was deemed "high-risk" so had to be closely monitored during her first pregnancy at 20 with her son.

She went on to have two more children, a son and a daughter.

After finding out more about her condition, she felt comfortable starting to exercise, and in her early 30s began weightlifting.

She started running in her mid-30s.

But, in March 2023, her mother was diagnosed with lung condition emphysema.

She was then diagnosed with bronchiectasis and a rare form of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Before she died in May 2025, Smith promised she would run the London Marathon in her memory.

After undertaking extensive training, including a 50km trek across the Sahara, Smith completed her first marathon alongside her husband Matthew.

They wore t-shirts with pictures of Margaret on their backs.

"She's had my back all the way and she's always been my biggest supporter, so I had to have her with me."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.