Runner with brain tumour targets marathon record

Iain Ward, a 36-year-old man with terminal glioblastoma, is determined to break the world record for marathon fundraising, currently at £2. 3 million. He has raised over £350,000 for charity and plans to run the New York City Marathon in November. Since his diagnosis in 2020, Ward has completed 18 marathons and various endurance challenges, including running 32 half-marathons in 32 consecutive days. He sees his mission as a way to help others suffering from cancer and to promote the importance of fitness.

Ward's journey began when he started sharing his story online during the Covid pandemic, which led him to focus on marathon fundraising inspired by the record set by Steve Chalke in 2011. He aims to use his platform as a content creator with 14 million social media followers to raise awareness and funds. His experiences are also featured in a documentary exploring how individuals cope with terminal illness. Ward remains optimistic about his prognosis, stating he could live beyond the average life expectancy of five years.