A Hilton woman has completed another race to remember her brother who died from pancreatic cancer.

Deborah Gilman, 48, ran across Hadrian’s Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle last month to remember her brother Max Parker, who died from pancreatic cancer in December 2016, only three weeks after he was diagnosed.

Now, little sister Deb has completed another race in her brother’s memory, trying to raise more money and awareness of the illness.

On June 17, Deb took on blistering heat to face the 69-mile run along with best friend Paul Waters, 44, raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK. This time, she was joined by Paul and 55-year-old Nigel Atkins, who was completing his first ultra run Race to the Stones on Saturday, July 15.

The 100km run started at Lewknow in Oxford and continued an almost entirely off-road route across the county, crossing over the River Thames. The finish line was in Avebury in Wiltshire, home to the largest stone circle in Europe.

Deborah and Paul celebrated completing the run with a quick photo

Unlike her previous run where she faced temperatures of 28C, Deb and her team faced this one in much fresher conditions with drizzly rain and winds throughout the day, but they refused to let anything dampen their spirits.

She said: "The camaraderie and support we all received on the route was amazing.

"We made new friends, shared stories and were cared for by the staff all the way; after all it's a long time to be upright however fast you do it."

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers, with only three per cent of those diagnosed living beyond five years. However, research into the illness is not well-funded. In 2011, only one per cent of money from major funding bodies for cancer research went into pancreatic cancer.

Ms Gilman said that Max was a caring brother, and he always put other people’s needs before his own. She said: “Max was the sort of person who would not want to alarm people. He’s always looked after me; his younger sister.

“He told me the doctors weren’t talking months to live, they were talking weeks.

“He was lying; they had told him he had days.”

Deb and her brother Max were very close and always looked out for each other

The runners have already raised £2,500, and are waiting on an extra £600 donation from Paul’s former workplace Tradeteam.

A spokesperson for Pancreatic Cancer Fundraising UK said: “Every little helps and the money Deborah has made will make such a difference.

“That money could be used to pay for 80 hours of a researcher’s work into biomarkers to detect pancreatic cancer or provide 800 people with newly diagnosed packs to help them understand their diagnosis, the treatments available and how we can help. It really does make a difference.

“It is a very quick disease, but our researchers are involving in very promising work and we will keep striving to increase the survival rates.”

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The essential organ produces digestive juices and hormones that regulate blood sugar.

People diagnosed with the illness will rarely get better, as just three per cent of people suffering with it will live beyond five years after the diagnosis.

People who smoke or have long-standing diabetes are more likely to develop the disease, as well as people who suffer with chronic pancreatitis or similar inherited conditions.

It is important to get diagnosed as quickly as possible, to ensure the highest chance of survival. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
  • Pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back
  • Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Depression

Anyone with any of these symptoms is advised to visit the GP as quickly as possible.