A runner from Gloucester who once struggled to walk due to ME/CFS is preparing to take on the 2026 Paris Marathon to raise funds for a charity that supported him through his illness.
Oliver Stockley, 33, will join tens of thousands of runners in the French capital this April to complete the 26.2-mile race in aid of the The ME Association, which supports people living with ME/CFS and Long Covid.
The marathon challenge carries deep personal significance for Stockley, who was diagnosed with ME/CFS around ten years ago shortly after starting his first job following university.
At the time, he had enjoyed an active lifestyle that included cycling, running and walking. However, his symptoms forced him to stop working full-time and move back in with his parents for additional support.
“Suddenly, the things I’d taken for granted – walking, running, even reading books – felt impossibly exhausting,” he said.
“I had to stop them all, and any exertion was followed by days or weeks of feeling wiped out. On the outside I looked healthy and able, but I was experiencing debilitating symptoms; my life fell apart and it was terrifying.”
Stockley said that at his worst he was confined to bed for much of the day.
“On my worst days, I was stuck in bed and unable to move, sleeping 16 hours a day. I tried to get up to go to the bathroom but couldn’t hold my own weight. I had to crawl.”
ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a multisystem disease that can cause severe fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive difficulties and post-exertional malaise, alongside symptoms such as pain, headaches, nausea and sensitivity to light and noise.
It is estimated that at least 404,000 people in the UK are living with ME/CFS. A further 950,000 people who have not fully recovered from Covid-19 could meet the diagnostic criteria, potentially bringing the total number of people affected to around 1.35 million.
Nearly a decade after his diagnosis, Stockley says his health has improved significantly. He has returned to full-time work, now lives independently and has gradually rebuilt his fitness.
“I finally feel able to reconnect with an activity I always loved – running,” he said. “It’s a deeply meaningful challenge for me, and a chance to show how far I’ve come against this under-represented condition that dominated my life for many years.
“It’s also my way of giving back to The ME Association – without their resources, I would have been completely lost.”
Stockley said he considers himself fortunate to have recovered enough to take on a physical fundraising challenge and hopes his efforts will support others who are still living with the condition.
Martine Ainsworth-Wells, trustee and campaigns director at The ME Association, said the charity was grateful for his support.
“We wish Oliver all the best for his training in the lead-up to the Paris Marathon, and of course on the day itself,” she said.
“His efforts don’t just support our work, they inspire everyone connected to our cause and ultimately help us raise awareness and understanding of ME/CFS.”
The Paris Marathon is one of the world’s largest and most celebrated running events, taking participants past major landmarks including the Champs-Élysées, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower before finishing near the Arc de Triomphe.
Stockley has been training for several months, balancing early-morning runs and weekend long-distance sessions. He is also a member of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trail Runners, an adventure running club that regularly completes trail routes as a team.
He has set a fundraising target of £900, with all donations going directly to the charity.
“It breaks my heart knowing that right now there are countless thousands of people in the same place I was ten years ago, their world shattered by a diagnosis of ME/CFS,” he said.
“Whether it’s £10 or £100, I would be so grateful for any donations.”