Stephen Jones
My Story
My Story
My Dad Chris died in August 2018 after a short but brutal battle against pancreatic cancer having only been diagnosed a few months before. Seven years on, I still miss him every single day and can't help but feel if he was diagnosed properly and earlier he might have stood a chance.
Pancreatic Cancer Action is a small but impactful charity whose primary focus is "Saving Lives Through Early Diagnosis", so I am sure you can see how this resonates with me.
In 2021 I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon for them raising over £1,500, and now I'm raising money for them again, but this time running the London Marathon in 2026.
I feel immensely thankful to Pancreatic Cancer Action for giving me the opportunity to represent them in the London Marathon 2026. Back in 2021, I never envisioned running a full distance marathon, but having started my YouTube running channel RUN SDJ back in early 2023, it has pushed me beyond limits I ever thought I would achieve with multiple marathons now under my belt.
To date, I have not done any marathons for charity so I am hoping my family and friends will get behind my fundraising efforts running the London Marathon in April 2026.
If you have read this far, thank you and any contribution no matter how big or small would be immensely appreciated.
Stephen.
About Pancreatic Cancer Action
Our mission is to improve the survival rates of pancreatic cancer by ensuring more people are diagnosed early and in time for surgery – currently the only potential cure – and improve the quality of life of patients. Our vision is a day when everyone is diagnosed early and survives pancreatic cancer.
Why early diagnosis?
Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is important because if it can be diagnosed and treated at an early stage, before the tumour has spread or grown too large, then survival rates for patients are significantly better. Every day 29 people die from pancreatic cancer.
We raise public awareness of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms
Public awareness of pancreatic cancer is very low with half of all patients having not heard of the disease before their own diagnosis.
This is why it is one of our key aims to improve this so more people recognise the symptoms they or a loved one may have and go to the doctors sooner.
Healthcare professionals have a vital part to play in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which is why we provide free resources for GPs, pharmacists and pancreatic cancer specialists.
We campaign and lobby the government and key stake holders for change
It is important that key stakeholders and policy makers in Government are made aware of the issues surrounding pancreatic cancer. From inequalities in funding, care and survival to access to treatments and the lack of public awareness of the disease, we highlight this wherever we can.
We are also thrilled that Ali Stunt, our founder, sits on the board of directors for Pancreatic Cancer Europe, which brings together pancreatic cancer experts from all over Europe to improve diagnosis and care for patients.
We fund research into the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
The amount of research funding for pancreatic cancer is minuscule compared to other common cancers (currently 3%) and the proportion spent on early diagnosis is small.
We fund research specifically to improve early diagnosis and nothing else because we know that early diagnosis saves lives.
We provide free patient information for those diagnosed and living with pancreatic cancer
We want patients and carers to have credible, evidence-based information on the disease and its treatments. That is why we provide free, comprehensive information in a variety of formats.
About The London Marathon.
The London Marathon has become an annual, inspiring and colourful fixture in the world’s sporting calendar since the inaugural race on 29 March 1981: a celebration of fun, fundraising and fancy dress.
Over the years more than a million people have completed the 26.2-mile course – which runs from Blackheath to The Mall, with a spectacular finish in front of Buckingham Palace, showcasing the very best that the capital city has to offer.
What’s more, these participants have raised over a billion pounds for charity and there have been countless amazing tales of human achievement throughout the event’s history – living up to its aim of helping participants ‘to have fun, and provide some happiness and sense of achievement in a troubled world’.
