A St Albans man, inspired by his mum’s battle against four different cancers, is taking on the London Marathon 2026 to raise vital funds for world-leading cancer research institute.
City resident Steve Phillips will be running in the capital on Sunday, April 26, to support cancer patients and those who’ve lost loved ones to the disease.
Having seen his mum battle four different cancers in the last four years, he is running to raise vital funds for The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR) – the world-leading research institute and charity.
Steve, who celebrates his 50th birthday the weekend of the London Marathon, is participating alongside his son, Ethan, 18, to honour his mum’s resilience in the face of cancer.
Steve said: “My mum’s strength, resilience and determination to keep fighting inspire me every day. But sadly, too many families have to face similar challenges.”
Steve’s mum, Annette Phillips, 73, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022 and subsequently discovered she also had separate primary cancers in the kidney and lung. She went through several major surgeries, including a mastectomy, partial nephrectomy and the partial removal of her lung – and in 2024, she was delighted to receive the news that she was in remission from them all.
However, shortly afterwards, a routine scan revealed she had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). She was told this was not curable, but she is able to live a reasonably normal life at the moment and hopes that she will continue doing so for many years.
“My mum has been lucky in that all her cancers have been identified and removed very quickly, giving her the best chance of a successful outcome," Steve explained. "But I know that cancer can take many forms and while there have already been huge advances in identification techniques and treatments, we are still at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to beating this disease.
“Without further research, we will not be able to push forward in making new discoveries needed to unlock the complexities and nuances within the ecosystem of cancer. We need more research to be able to treat the disease effectively and to hopefully prevent it in the future.”
Steve is no stranger when it comes to taking on a physical challenge. Having been into endurance sports for many years, he has run 10 different marathons, six full distance Ironman events and numerous other triathlons.
On April 26, he will be running the London Marathon alongside his son, Ethan, who will be taking on his first full marathon.
“I will be turning 50 on the weekend of the London Marathon and Ethan turned 18 in January," Steve added.
"We are both keen runners and had always planned to do a marathon together, so with us both celebrating significant milestones this year, it seemed the right time to take one on.”
The pair are hoping to complete the course in under two hours 50 minutes and have set themselves the target of raising £5,000 for The Institute of Cancer Research.
"Nothing would make me prouder than to support an amazing charity and to cross the finish line at the 2026 London Marathon together with my son - with my incredible mum, family and friends all there cheering us on," Steve concluded.
Rachael Potter, Sports and Challenge events officer at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Steve and Ethan and all of our #teamICR runners taking part in this year’s London Marathon. Training for a marathon while fundraising is a huge commitment, and we continue to be inspired by the determination and passion shown by our supporters.
“We hope Steve and Ethan and all our runners feel motivated knowing they are helping to make a real difference for people affected by cancer. Every pound raised helps drive our research forward, and every mile brings us closer to a future where cancer can be defeated.”
To support Steve and Ethan and raise funds for our vital research, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/steven-phillips-1920?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_transactional_--_donation_received_--_nth_donation
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