Support my challenge to fight for a world without pancreatic cancer

My uncle died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 52, I am 47 now. In mid-May 2017, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he was 69. By the time it was found, it had already spread to his liver, lungs and abdominal cavity.

Looking back, there were signs, but none that seemed unusual at the time. He had suffered with back pain for years after breaking his back in a car accident in his twenties, so worsening pain wasn't immediately alarming. He was a little more tired than usual, but he was in his late sixties, and my mum has always been the faster walker. He had stopped drinking because alcohol simply didn't agree with him anymore, and he had lost some weight, but not noticeably around his stomach, so it went largely unnoticed.

His battle with pancreatic cancer was fierce, devastating and heartbreakingly short. He tried palliative chemotherapy in the hope of slowing the disease, but sadly it appeared to accelerate his decline rather than help. Just over two months after his diagnosis, he died on 25 July 2017. Those final weeks were unimaginably difficult, and while losing him was devastating, we were also grateful that he no longer had to endure such suffering.

For our family, pancreatic cancer is not just a statistic or something that happens to other people. It is a lived reality that has profoundly shaped our lives and reminds us of just how aggressive and unforgiving this disease can be.

This September, it will have been over 470 weeks since we lost Dad. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer in the UK, and 31 people are diagnosed every single day.

Studies have found that stress accelerates the growth of pancreatic cancer, so this September, my busiest work month of the year, I'm challenging myself to get up, get moving, prioritise my health and walk 140 km to remember my Dad and raise awareness of this particular cancer. 140km because 140 people die every 5 days in the UK from pancreatic cancer.

If you're able to, please consider making a donation. Every contribution helps support research, raise awareness and bring hope to families facing this devastating disease.