Specialist nurse takes on the 2026 Bath half to champion bone health awareness

Specialist nurse, Louise, will run the GetPRO Bath Half Marathon on 15 March 2026 to raise awareness of osteoporosis and promote bone‑strength 

Louise will join thousands of runners on the fast, scenic two‑lap course that starts and finishes in Royal Victoria Park and showcases Bath’s most recognisable landmarks. The event, taking place on Mother’s Day, is a great reason to raise awareness of a condition that could affect many of the women we love – 1 in 2 women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. 

The Bath Half Marathon has grown into one of the UK’s most celebrated road races and the largest one‑day charity fundraising event in Southwest England. Since 2000, participants have raised more than £30 million for good causes. In 2025 more than 11,000 runners crossed the finish line and organisers expect a similarly strong field in 2026. 

Louise is running to change the conversation about bone health, especially for women. She wants to show that weight‑bearing activity can be part of a healthy life at almost any age and that small, consistent steps can make a big difference to long‑term bone strength. 

“I’ve done the Bath Half a few times over the years. My first was about 25 years ago and I ran for different reasons then. Now I am 51, I run to be stronger. I want other women my age to be strong and healthy for the next 30 years and more, if we can. You don’t have to run half marathons. Something is better than nothing. I’m not aiming for a personal best. I’m aiming to enjoy the experience, soak up the atmosphere and raise awareness for this wonderful charity.” 

In Louise’s clinical role on the ROS Helpline, she regularly speaks to people who are concerned about their bone health or their osteoporosis diagnosis, and this is part of her motivation to run the half marathon in aid of the people the ROS supports. “I speak to a wide range of people on the helpline every day, who may have low bone strength or are breaking bones easily - from women in their 50s (like me) to those in their later years - 80s and 90s, plus younger people and also men - it's not just a women's issue. I feel that we need to raise awareness about bone health in the same way that people think about their hearts.”  

“Exercising for my bones is also going to be beneficial for my heart and my mental functions too. There are cross principals that cover many health conditions, but bones are less often thought about. Unfortunately, you’re not usually going to know if you have a low bone density until you break a bone or receive an osteoporosis diagnosis and I wanted to start practicing what I preach on the helpline for myself and invest in my bones.” 

Exercising for strong bones 

Running is a great type of weight-bearing exercise: each foot strike sends a beneficial jolt through the bones, stimulating bone‑forming cells and helping slow bone loss.  

But if running isn’t for you there are plenty of other weight-bearing activities you can try, such brisk walking, dancing, skipping or team sports. The key is to get moving and choose something you enjoy. Specialist nurses at the ROS advise: 

• Building up gradually to allow bones and muscles to adapt 

• Including rest days to reduce injury risk 

• Prioritising good nutrition, including calcium-rich foods such as dairy, leafy greens, eggs, and oily fish. 

Visit our Exercise for bone health information page to find out how anyone diagnosed with osteoporosis can exercising safely or speak to your healthcare team.  

In addition to weight-bearing exercises, it’s important to include muscle-strengthening exercises to keep your bones strong, like using weights or resistance bands. Balance exercises are also beneficial as they can help reduce the risk of falls.  

Louise said, “For bone health and osteoporosis, the overall message is simple – to invest in your bones you need to be doing weight bearing exercises with impact, muscle strengthen exercises where the muscles pull on the bones, and balance exercises to prevent falls. Everyone has a range of ability but just try to introduce a little each day and gradually increase if you can. Something is better than nothing!”   

Keen to educate younger people on the importance of bone health, Louise explained “It's about being strong and investing in for your future self, caring for yourself and making sure that you’re building a strong and healthy body. The future you, will be really thankful!” 
 
Osteoporosis is common, treatable, and often preventable, but only if people know their risk. We urge you to complete the Great British Bone Check - a free, 3‑minute online risk checker designed to help people understand whether they might be vulnerable to osteoporosis.