Story
Sarah is a marathon runner who loves a challenge. In 2024 she faced the biggest challenge of her life: she was diagnosed with lung cancer. After going to her GP with a persistent cough, 5 weeks later she was soon diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer. Her world flipped upside down. Sarah led a healthy life, running and going to the gym often, long walks at the weekend with her dog followed by long dinners afterwards with friends! She had no smoking history and had just turned 40. The diagnosis floored her.
Treatment, set back and more treatment
After several gruelling months of chemoradiation Sarah was put on an immunotherapy drug. The aim was to “mop up any remaining cancer cells”. Monthly visits to the hospital for infusions and scans lasted 6 months. However, in January 2025 a scan revealed the cancer had spread to her brain. The immunotherapy had not worked. Stage 4. No longer deemed curable. Earth-shattering news once again.
She was immediately put on a targeted therapy drug - what those in the community call the “miracle pill” - and received high dose stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) to the brain.
Alchemy through adversity
Determined to keep her body fit and her mind focused, Sarah signed up to an ultramarathon taking place in the county she grew up in. In May 2025, together with friends and family, they walked half of the Isle of Wight - 53km - in one day! It took 15 hours and months of training but crossing that finish line was testimony to the power of hope.
“A stage 4 diagnosis changed my life in every way imaginable, but I was determined that it wouldn’t all be bad. It gave me the determination to to complete an ultramarathon! Something I had never dreamed of doing! Walking together with friends and family, showed me how incredible my body is; how precious it is to create memories and how beautiful life really is”.
The new challenge
This year Sarah plans to return to the island to walk the other half! Another 54km! And some of her amazing team have signed up again too - high-fives to Annabel, Emma, Kate, Katie, Hannah, Robin & Liza - who between them lost many toenails! With some wonderful additions to the team - hi to Angela and Ashley!
The team are raising funds for lung cancer research. Advancements in treatments keep Sarah - and thousands of others living with lung cancer - alive. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death globally and is typically associated with older people who have smoked. But this is not the case - 20% of all lung cancers are onco-driven meaning they are not smoking related, and the numbers of young people being diagnosed in rapidly on the rise. The misconception is dangerous. Lung cancer diagnoses get missed because people don't fit the perceived profile and research lags behind. This is why the team are raising money for Oncogene Cancer Research (OCR).
Why we fundraise
Run by Yvonne Diaz, a lung cancer patient herself; and Jan Clark, whose daughter Amy received a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosed at the age of 20, OCR are passionate about research. Sarah has worked with the charity over the past year on awareness campaigns and seen first hand how committed they are to changing the landscape of the disease. One day - hopefully in Sarah, Yvonne and Amy’s lifetimes - stage 4 onco-driven lung cancers will be curable. Momentum is there and we want to keep this awareness going! But campaigns and research need money - which is where you come in. Please give what you can and share with family, friends and colleagues. Every penny goes directly to power lung cancer research.