Pancreatic Cancer UK has unveiled Shoes of Hope, a powerful installation along the River Thames, highlighting the devastating impact of pancreatic cancer ahead of the London Marathon. The charity hopes to raise funds to develop the ‘ultimate test’ to speed up detection and urge the government to invest in early detection research.
The display at Potters Fields Park features 797 running shoes, donated by celebrities, survivors, bereaved families, and supporters, including, poignantly, the trainers of those who have passed away. Each pair represents the number of lives lost to the disease every month in the UK.
Pancreatic Cancer UK is the Charity of the Year for the TCS London Marathon, and the Shoes of Hope installation was unveiled by Tony Audenshaw (Emmerdale), whose wife Ruth passed away from the cancer in 2017.
Audenshaw, who is running the marathon in Ruth’s memory, donated her trainers and was joined by several well-known names including actor Tom Burke (Strike), whose godfather, Alan Rickman, was sadly lost to the disease, Rickman’s widow Rima Horton, actress Barbara Flynn (whose husband also passed away), and presenter Adil Ray, who lost his mum.
Among the celebrity donors from the worlds of television, film, and sport are actress Olivia Williams (who survived the disease), actors Richard Armitage, Alison Steadman, chef Ainsley Harriott, and presenter Zoe Ball (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 chef Paul Ainsworth (running the marathon for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of his dad).
The display coincides with new research from Pancreatic Cancer UK revealing a stark lack of awareness about the disease. The survey found 70% of people fail to recognise the symptoms, such as changes in bowel habits, indigestion, and back pain, which often go unnoticed due to the absence of early detection tests. Tragically, more than half of those diagnosed die within three months.
The research also reveals that the public underestimates the severity of the crisis, with many misjudging the annual death toll by 50%. Pancreatic cancer is set to overtake breast cancer as the UK’s fourth deadliest cancer by 2027. Alarmingly, 27% of people would delay seeing a doctor, and 19% fear ‘wasting the doctor’s time’ despite serious symptoms.
Despite the grim statistics, over a third of respondents remain hopeful about scientific breakthroughs. Pancreatic Cancer UK and its donors are funding research into a world-first, cost-effective early detection test, currently in development at Imperial College London, a crucial step in improving survival rates that have stagnated for 50 years.
With over 700 runners taking on the London Marathon for Pancreatic Cancer UK this April, the charity aims to raise £2 million to support its vital research and has launched an open letter 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.
Tony Audenshaw, who plays Bob Hope in Emmerdale, spoke at the unveiling: “I’m honoured to unveil this powerful installation highlighting the impact of pancreatic cancer and our hope for saving thousands of people’s lives. My wife Ruth was a keen runner herself, and I’ll be running the marathon next weekend in her memory. Her story is one of hundreds represented here. If you’re near Potter’s Field today, please visit and learn more about why it’s so important we finally make progress with this devastating disease.”
