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Woman completes half-Ironman after overcoming cancer and personal challenges
Overview
Meg Stevenson, a 23-year-old from Albrighton, has successfully completed a half-Ironman race in Belgrade after starting the Couch to 5k running programme less than two years prior. Childhood kidney cancer left her with reduced lung capacity, and at 19 she lost her mother to cancer, stepping in to care for her younger brother. Despite these challenges and initial training setbacks, she finished the Belgrade 70.3 and now plans to enter more races.
Key points
- Meg Stevenson completed a half-Ironman in Belgrade less than two years after starting the Couch to 5k running programme.
- At age eight, she had a kidney removed and underwent chemotherapy, which reduced her lung capacity by 70%.
- At age 19, her mother died from cancer, leaving Stevenson to care for her younger brother and run the household.
- She began running in late 2024 after realising she was unfit and feeling numb, initially keeping her training private.
- After an aborted attempt at the Swansea Ironman 70.3, she successfully completed the Belgrade 70.3 in September 2026.
- She has plans to run the Malaga Marathon and attempt the Swansea half-Ironman again.