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Women who met in hospital to run ultramarathon

Eleanor MaslinEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
News imageSupplied Two women in hospital beds smiling for the camera. On the left is a woman with brown hair in a plait and glasses, who is leaning forward on a bed, wearing a black vest and blue patterned trousers. Next to her is another woman in a grey jumper and knee high socks with long blonde hair leaning forward and smiling too.Supplied
Gemma Latham, left, and Kay Lawson met and became friends in Lincoln County Hospital in 2025

Two women who became friends after meeting in hospital are taking on an ultramarathon.

Kay Lawson, 47, was lying in her hospital bed in Lincoln County Hospital in October 2025 ahead of a gall bladder operation when she turned to the woman in the bed beside her and said: "I should have been running the Lincoln half marathon today."

Kay said Gemma Latham, 43, who had broken her pelvis but by chance, would also have been running the half-marathon, made a promise to her that one day they would "forget how much pain we're in right now, and run an ultramarathon together".

True to their word, they are now getting ready to run the Trent Valley Ultra Marathon on 16 May.

Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Kay, an aromatherapist from Heighington, said she was in hospital with Gemma, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, for about a week together.

She described Gemma as having the "spirit of a fighter" when she told Kay they would run a marathon together.

"I was like 'Oh I don't know', but here we are doing one, so that's that," Kay said.

Gemma added: "I'm a firm believer in everything happening when it's supposed to and paths crossing when you need them the most.

"I love Kay's outlook on life, we are both strong, independent women. We hit it off from the go."

News imageSupplied Two women are standing and smiling and both wearing coats. On the left the woman is wearing a blue bandana and glasses and has long brown hair tied back, she is also wearing a pink coat and blue trousers. On the right is a woman in a black coat and a purple headband.Supplied
Gemma and Kay have been training together for the Trent Valley Ultra Marathon on 16 May

Kay had her gall bladder removed, she said, with scans also showing she had diverticulitis and a degenerative colon.

After being discharged from hospital, Kay was keen to get her trainers back on and ran a 10k during the Lanzarote Marathon in December.

"Every time I wanted to walk and quit I thought 'go on it was only a few weeks ago you were in hospital dreaming you were fit enough to run, so get your bottom round'", she said.

The Trent Valley Ultra Marathon is a distance of 32 miles (about 51km).

Kay said: "I've never done that distance and I imagine it will be extremely painful.

"I'm not a runner, I was always the kid in school who got picked last for sports.

"Every marathon I do I'm last but some people run for the time they have been doing it."

A JustGiving page was also set up by Kay to raise money for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Charity.

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