Shoes of Hope

797 pairs of running shoes

The 797 pairs of running shoes on display, generously donated by survivors, supporters and families affected by pancreatic cancer, poignantly represented the number of lives lost to pancreatic cancer every month in the UK.  

As the Charity of the Year for the TCS London Marathon, our Shoes of Hope installation aimed to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and the need for more funding and attention to support the research breakthroughs that are desperately needed. And it did just that.

The installation was unveiled by Emmerdale star Tony Audenshaw, whose wife Ruth died from pancreatic cancer in 2017, and who is running the TCS London Marathon for us this year. Tony was joined by other well-known names including, Barbara Flynn, (whose husband passed away), and presenter Adil Ray (who lost his mum). 

We also had a host of television crews and journalists, including Good Morning Britain and the BBC, to capture the unveiling and broadcast it to the nation, giving pancreatic cancer a platform like never before.  

Passersby wandered through the sea of trainers, stopping to read the heartfelt handwritten messaged attached to each pair.

One such dedication was from Jo, who lost her husband Stewart to pancreatic cancer in 2024, and who will be taking on the 26.6 miles in memory of Stewart this year, cheered on by their two young daughters.

Luke Rinder, a passerby at the installation, commented:

“I was struck by this incredible display and deeply moved by reading the messages attached to the shoes. I had no idea that so many people die from pancreatic cancer each month – the scale of it is truly shocking to me.” 

Alongside the many powerful messages and dedications from families affected by pancreatic cancer, there were some well-known names, including actress Olivia Williams (who survived the disease), actors Richard Armitage, Alison Steadman, and chef Ainsley Harriott, (who all lost their mothers to pancreatic cancer), Billy Postlethwaite (in memory of his dad Pete Postlethwaite), reality star Georgia Toffolo (whose father-in-law passed away), boxer Amir Khan (whose mother survived), and film producer Jemima Goldsmith (in memory of her dad). 

With over 700 runners taking on the London Marathon for Pancreatic Cancer UK this April, we’re aiming to raise £2 million to support our vital research, such as the world-first, cost-effective diagnostic breath test, currently in development at Imperial College London, a crucial step in improving survival rates that have stagnated for 50 years.  

While our runners take on the ultimate test to help fund the ultimate test, we’re asking the public to take action to help make this test a reality too, by signing our open letter to unite, diagnose and save lives. We’re calling on governments across the UK to roll out early detection tests, invest in regular monitoring for high-risk individuals, and commit at least £35 million annually to pancreatic cancer research for the next 20 years. 

Sign our open letter

“Pancreatic cancer has been overlooked, underfunded, left behind, and this installation lays bare the heartbreaking impact felt by hundreds of families every month across the UK. Each pair of these trainers tells a story, tragically, too often that’s of someone special diagnosed too late for lifesaving treatment. Someone who is missing – because we are missing a test to detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage.”