Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw is set to lace up his running shoes once again to fulfil a deeply personal promise. 

The soap star, best known for playing Bob Hope for 25 years, will take part in the TCS London Marathon in honour of his late wife, Ruth, 

who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2017. His participation in this year’s event holds special significance, as it falls on what would have been their 24th wedding anniversary.

Audenshaw last ran the London Marathon in 2015 but felt that now was the right time to return, especially as the event’s official charity partner is Pancreatic Cancer UK. 

With the aim of raising £2 million for a potentially life-saving diagnostic test, the actor is determined to contribute to this crucial cause.

Fulfilling a Heartfelt Promise

Before her passing, Ruth left behind heartfelt messages for her loved ones, including a special request for Tony. In a card written before her death, she gently encouraged him to run the London Marathon again on behalf of Pancreatic Cancer UK.

“She wrote, ‘If you run London again, will you do it for pancreatic cancer?’” Audenshaw recalled. True to her selfless nature, she added, “‘No pressure, if you don’t fancy it, don’t’ – which was very Ruth.”

For the actor, the timing never felt right in previous years. “I could have got a place the next year, but we didn’t know how she was going to be,” he explained. Training for a marathon is an intense commitment, and he wanted to dedicate all his time to being with Ruth. “And then I just never really felt like it again.”

Now, however, the cause is too important to ignore. With over 700 runners already signed up to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, Audenshaw is proud to be among those helping to bring a new early detection test closer to reality.

The Devastating Impact of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, claiming thousands of lives each year. In the UK alone, around 10,500 people are diagnosed annually, with more than half dying within three months. The survival rate is alarmingly low, with fewer than 7% of patients living for five years or more.

The biggest challenge in treating pancreatic cancer is its late detection. Symptoms such as back pain, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and unexplained weight loss are often mistaken for less serious conditions. As a result, four out of five patients are diagnosed when the cancer has already spread, making curative treatment impossible.

Surgery is currently the only potential cure, but only 10% of patients undergo the procedure. Ruth was among those who had an operation—traveling to Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany for the treatment. While the surgery was initially deemed successful, a devastating scan later revealed that the cancer had returned.

“It was such a body blow,” Audenshaw said. “She had been through so much. We thought she’d at least get a bit longer. It just seemed too cruel.”

Ruth’s Legacy and the Fight for Early Detection

Ruth was a dedicated NHS professional, working first as a psychiatric nurse before becoming a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) therapist. She was also an avid runner, having completed eight marathons, including an impressive personal best of 3 hours, 53 minutes, and 54 seconds at the London Marathon in 2006.

Her experience with pancreatic cancer left her deeply frustrated by the lack of progress in early detection. She and Tony became active supporters of Pancreatic Cancer UK, raising £14,000 through a special charity event before her passing.

“She got angry that pancreatic cancer was left behind as a condition,” Audenshaw admitted. “Maybe 10 years down the line, they might have been able to do something for her.”

Now, the charity is closer than ever to developing a groundbreaking breath test that could detect pancreatic cancer early. The test would identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that indicate the presence of the disease, potentially allowing for life-saving treatment before it’s too late.

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