Hearing mum had cancer 'one of worst days of my life'

Peter Dunlop is running a marathon every month for a year to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK

The son of a woman who died from pancreatic cancer is running a marathon every month for a year to represent the number of months his mum lived after her diagnosis.

Peter Dunlop, 39, from Taunton, Somerset, has so far completed marathons in the Italian city of Pisa, Peterborough and Wales, and will be running the London Marathon on Sunday.

He had been living in New Zealand in September 2016 when his mum Jane Dunlop was diagnosed and said it became "one of the single worst days of my life".

The money Mr Dunlop raises will go towards Pancreatic Cancer UK's research into early detection of cancer.

Mr Dunlop said he and his wife Robyn had just been offered full sponsorship to stay in New Zealand and had spent an hour telling his mum about how amazing the country was.

"After listening and being so happy for us, mum hit us with the news she had pancreatic cancer," he said.

Mr Dunlop will run the London Marathon on Sunday

They were also told she had been given months to live and may not live to Christmas.

"I didn't know what to say. I couldn't speak. It was just catastrophic news to receive, especially when you are living two days' flight away," Mr Dunlop said.

He and his wife returned to the UK two weeks later and were shocked at how her health had deteriorated in a matter of months.

The family supported her through a "brutal chemotherapy regime", before she enjoyed her last holiday – a cruise to Pisa - with her husband.

Mrs Dunlop died aged 63 on 30 September 2017, two weeks after they returned and one year after diagnosis.

Mr Dunlop said he wanted to do something big to raise money for the charity

Mr Dunlop said he wanted to do something big to raise money for the charity on his mum's behalf.

Starting the year with a marathon in Pisa had felt "particularly poignant" as his parents holidayed there shortly before his mum's death.

"She would have been so proud of me [and] would have been at every race, cheering me on. Her presence is certainly missed," he added.

"Mum got 12 months which isn't enough time but I know most get far less."

Mr Dunlop said it was important to raise money for a "simple test" which GPs can use to detect the disease earlier.

"We must give more people the chance to have curative treatment, giving them something more than hope," he added.