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BBC Somerset

Runner’s 12 marathons after family deaths from pancreatic cancer

6 December 2025

Beth CruseWest of England

Peter Dunlop A man with a brown beard and glasses is taking a selfie with three other people in front of a stadium. The second person is a blonde woman with a burgundy jumper with black stripes, then a man with dark glasses and a blue t-shirt. On the right is a woman with long brown hair and a light-pink jumper. They are all smiling. — Peter Dunlop (L) set out on a mammoth challenge after losing his mum to pancreatic cancer

A man running 12 marathons in memory of his mum who died from pancreatic cancer said his uncle’s sudden death from the same disease “only spurred me on”.

Peter Dunlop, 40, from Taunton in Somerset, set out to run a marathon each month this year to symbolise the time he had with his mum, Jane, 63, after her diagnosis. Halfway through the challenge his uncle was also diagnosed and died a week later.

“It was a real shock, but my uncle’s passing only spurred me on to do more, for him, my mum and everyone affected by this devastating disease,” said Mr Dunlop.

He has run more than 1,000 miles in six countries, raising over £24,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK, and will complete his final run on Sunday.

Mr Dunlop began his year of marathons in Pisa in Italy, where his parents had taken their final holiday before Jane’s death in 2017.

“There was torrential rain, [it was] freezing, and my wife was the only supporter in the crowd,” he recalled.

“But remembering my mum, and the amazing sponsorship and kind words got me through.”

Mr Dunlop ran the London Marathon as part of his challenge

Peter Dunlop A man with brown hair and a brown beard holding a marathon medal and smiling in a Pancreatic Cancer UK t-shirt. — Mr Dunlop ran the London Marathon as part of his challenge

He has since run marathons in Wales, Scotland, the Netherlands, France and the Czech Republic.

“There are days you just don’t feel like getting up and doing it, but this challenge is about awareness,” he said.

“Most people don’t make three months after diagnosis, my mum was one of the lucky ones.”

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer, with survival rates stuck at 7 per cent for the past three decades, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Mr Dunlop said he hopes his efforts will support research into a new breath test that could help detect the disease earlier.

“Every little counts. If survival rates can even double, it would be a huge change.

“That’s why I keep running.”

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