As a woman runner, you will have heard of Mel Bound. Or you will have heard of her brilliant organisation, This Woman Runs (previously known as This Mum Runs). She is truly synonymous with the very concept of women running, having helped tens of thousands of women overcome the barriers to physical activity.

So it comes as no surprise to anyone to learn that she was awarded an OBE for Services to Women’s Community Sport as part of the King’s Birthday Honours over the weekend.

This Woman Runs

We couldn’t be more thrilled for Mel! Her journey has just been incredible to watch. What began in Bristol in 2014 as a simple Facebook post asking for a running buddy has grown into a nationwide behaviour change movement for women, built around community and belonging.

The organisation was founded as This Mum Runs, and rebranded as This Woman Runs in 2024. It was created to address a simple but persistent problem. Many women want to be active but do not always feel confident or welcome in traditional fitness environments.

Today, the organisation supports tens of thousands of women across 35+ cities through free weekly 30-minute walks and runs, led by trained volunteer Run Angels every Sunday morning. These sessions create welcoming, non-judgemental spaces. They’re a place where women can move in a way that feels good, build confidence, connect with others and keep coming back.

A well-deserved award

Mel has worked with us in many different ways over the years as well. We’ve tackled women’s safety issues through the We Will campaign. She’s searched out the best running kit as an tester in our Product Awards. Knowing her both professionally and personally, we can’t think of anyone better to receive this OBE.

“When the letter arrived, I cried,” says Mel. “That’s not because this work has ever been about recognition. It’s because recognition like this makes visible so much of what usually goes unseen. The early mornings, the quiet encouragement, the nervous first steps. The volunteers who notice who needs support. And the hundreds of small moments that help women believe they belong.”

“This work is everything to me: joyful, rewarding, challenging, relentless and completely worth it. But what makes it so special is the people. The women who trusted us enough to turn up, often terrified, and kept coming back. The volunteers who give up their Sunday mornings because they genuinely believe what they are doing matters. My team, advisors, partners, funders and champions who have believed in this movement and helped build it from the ground up.”