Emmerdale star to run TCS London Marathon in wife’s memory

Emmerdale star Tony Audenshaw will don his running shoes again to take on the 2025 TCS London Marathon after we were named Charity of the Year. The run will be deeply personal for Tony, whose wife Ruth sadly died from pancreatic cancer in 2017. To honour her memory, he is running to help us develop the first-ever early detection test for the disease – a breakthrough that could save thousands of lives.

A personal connection

Tony, who plays ‘Bob Hope’ in the popular ITV1 soap, last ran the London Marathon in 2015. It was later that year that Ruth was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. Ruth was able to have an operation, but sadly, the cancer later returned, and she died in 2017, aged just 43.

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer: more than half of people die within just three months of diagnosis. Currently, no screening programmes or early detection tests exist to help doctors diagnose pancreatic cancer, and its vague symptoms – such as back pain, unexpected weight loss and indigestion – are also common to many less serious conditions.

Tragically, as a result, 80% of people are not diagnosed until their cancer is at an advanced stage meaning that it is too late for them to have lifesaving surgery. By 2027 pancreatic cancer is projected to overtake breast cancer and become the fourth biggest cancer killer in the UK.

Our team of specialist nurses who staff our Support Line were there for Ruth and Tony throughout her journey, providing support and information. Ever since, Tony has been a passionate advocate and fundraiser for our charity.

Tony, 60 said: “A keen runner herself, Ruth would have been thrilled to know that London Marathon had chosen Pancreatic Cancer UK as its 2025 charity partner at this pivotal time. We all miss her like mad, but it’s a comfort to think that her story is helping to drive this change.”

The ultimate test

Tony will be one of more than 700 runners raising money for our charity at this year’s TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27 April. Together they are aiming to raise £2M to go towards desperately needed research and put the first-ever early detection test for the disease into the hands of doctors.

Despite the disease’s appallingly low survival, pancreatic cancer receives just three per cent of the annual UK cancer research budget. In stark contrast to other cancers, where significant progress has been made to improve survival rates, decades of underfunding have meant that pancreatic cancer survival hasn’t improved since the 1970s. Sadly, less than seven per cent of those diagnosed with the deadliest common cancer in the UK survive beyond five years.

We hope our TCS London Marathon campaign ‘The Ultimate Test’, will raise the profile of pancreatic cancer.  Around 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK each year, however, public awareness of the disease’s symptoms remains worryingly low. We recommend that anyone experiencing one or more of the most common symptoms – back pain, indigestion, tummy pain and weight-loss – for more than four weeks should contact their GP. Anyone with jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin) should immediately go to A&E.

Diana Jupp, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK said: “Tony has been one of our most passionate supporters for years and we are so proud to have him running for us, on what will be one of the most important days ever for pancreatic cancer.  This devastating disease has been overlooked, underfunded, and left behind for 50 years. Families are often left with only hope to hold on to, but they deserve more than hope.

“Being the official charity partner for the 2025 TCS London Marathon is a unique opportunity to change the story around the deadliest common cancer. An early detection test is finally within reach, which could save thousands of lives, and our runners are determined to take us over the finish line. With their help, we can put a test into the hands of doctors and give everyone affected by pancreatic cancer more than hope.”