For keen runner Derek Wilks being diagnosed with osteoporosis at 49 was a major shock. Despite having run 10 marathons, he was told he had fractured three vertebrae in his back three years ago. And a few months later he was told he had the bone-weakening condition.

Derek, a chief financial officer who lives in South London, said he put the pain in his back down to not having warmed up properly for a run and to working from home during Covid. “But I went for a MRI scan and I was absolutely knocked off my chair when they told me I had fractured my spine,” he said. “Later a bone density scan was done and I had the diagnosis.”

He added: “Like most people, I didn’t know much about it, but I thought it mostly affected women who were older than me. It was a complete shock.” Osteoporosis affects 3.5 million people, including one in five men over 50. The Sunday Express has been campaigning for greater awareness of this condition through our Better Bones for Life campaign, which comes after our 2024 campaign to increase the coverage of vital diagnostic Fracture Liaison Services across England.

We want an extra 100,000 people to visit the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s easy three-minute online risk checker. Now aged 52, after extensive rehabilitation and training, Derek is about to run the London Marathon for the sixth time today – his first since being diagnosed. He is one of 45 competitors running to raise money for the ROS.

The father-of-three said he was advised to be cautious and build back up to running again. “So, a year-and-a-half ago, I started getting back into running more seriously,” he said. “I enjoy the training and the marathons themselves. To run for the ROS is perfect as it’s very close to my heart. It’s an amazing cause. I think it will feel particularly special crossing the finish line this time.”

● To sponsor Derek visit justgiving.com/derek-wilks and to find the ROS’s risk checker go to theros.org.uk/risk-checker