Charity | Posted on May 18th, 2026 | return to news

Poole man to run four marathons in one day

Breast cancer survivor Paul O'Boyle, from Branksome, is to complete eight laps of the Bournemouth Bay Half Marathon in one day.

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There are always many stories about the courage of women with breast cancer, but very few detail men suffering from the disease.

However, Paul O’Boyle, from Branksome, who had the condition, was so pleased with the support he received from Poole Hospital that he is going to embark on an incredible challenge of running four marathons in one day to raise funds for the Ladybird Unit.

On 4 July, Paul will set off from the Bournemouth Pier Approach to complete eight laps of the Bournemouth Bay Half Marathon in one day – running almost 105 miles (169km) in one go.

In July 2024, Paul was referred to the Ladybird Unit after he noticed something “just felt off” with his chest. He went to his GP after noticing some dryness and crustiness near one of his nipples, and the GP referred his case to the Poole Hospital-based team.

Just two weeks later, Paul was told he had cancer. He underwent treatment, including surgery to remove his nipple. Paul received the all-clear shortly afterwards and was back at work before long.

Paul said: “I came off it thinking I’m one of the lucky ones because I noticed it early. If I’d left it, like a lot of men might do, it could have been a lot worse.

“I remember waking up from surgery, and the first thing they told me was there was nothing underneath, and that’s because I caught it early enough.”

After his treatment, Paul promised to do a ‘big run’ to give back to the Ladybird Unit team. It’s also an opportunity for him to spread awareness about breast cancer symptoms in men.

Paul said: “I’ve been treated well by the NHS, and to me, it’s about giving back. It’s a ‘thank you’ – that’s what it is, a thank you to the Ladybird Unit team.”

Aurelia Chliwna, public fundraising officer for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, said: “The scale of Paul’s challenge is matched only by the scale of his heart in giving back to our hospitals. The money raised directly from his four marathon challenges will enhance care for people treated by the Ladybird Unit, funding a level of comfort and care that goes beyond what NHS funding provides. We are so touched by Paul’s story and his drive to go above and beyond for the Ladybird team, and we’ll be cheering for him every single mile.”

Paul, who has been called the ‘Marathon Man’, took up running after surviving a horrific hit and run in 2015, where he sustained fractures to his skull, ribs and collarbone after he was knocked off his bike. In the 11 years since, he has completed 100km races and even took on 27 marathons in 26 days, as well as completing the rugged South West Coast Path to support local causes. With more than 104 miles to cover in just 24 hours, Paul is pushing his limits to raise £10,000 for patients treated by the Ladybird Unit.

If you want to support Paul, go to: www.justgiving.com/page/paul-oboyle-marathonman