Cancer survivor runs the London Marathon in memory of his dad

Riccardo Pilloni will take on the iconic event 22 years after his diagnosis and eight years after his father, Edmondo, died from liver cancer.

When Riccardo was 19 years old, he found a lump on his collarbone. He visited his GP and was told his symptoms could be seasonal flu related.

After his mother insisted that the doctor investigate further, Riccardo was referred to a haematologist. There, a biopsy revealed that this swollen lymph node was Hodgkin lymphoma – a type of blood cancer that begins in white blood cells.

“I remember feeling really healthy at the time, so the diagnosis was a huge shock,” Riccardo explained. “It felt like the rug has been pulled from under me.”

His treatment included chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

“When I looked in the mirror during treatment, I didn’t recognise myself. It destroys your body,” Riccardo shared.

Despite the long-term and late effects of his treatment, Riccardo considers himself “one of the lucky ones” having received an early diagnosis which meant his cancer had not spread. After months of treatment, he made a full recovery.

When his father was diagnosed with cancer years later, Riccardo felt a sense of helplessness as he watched him begin his own cancer journey.

“When I was fighting cancer, it was easier in a way because it was my own personal battle. But when it was happening to my dad, I felt powerless.”

After his father’s death, Riccardo became committed to supporting cancer prevention research and began his London Marathon training.

“Looking at how we can stop cancer before it starts feels like real progress. Trying to solve a problem like cancer before it begins, rather than treating it later, can save lives,” he added.

Riccardo says that grief and survival have shaped his outlook on life in equal measure.

“There is no finish line with grief, it stays with you forever. But when you’re going through cancer yourself, the finish line is going back to normal life,” he explained. “In both cases, you can’t see the finish line and you have to put the effort into moving forward.”

Running 26.2-miles through London is a personal commitment to honouring his dad’s memory and offering hope to others.

“I want people going through cancer to know that you’re not alone in this and there’s a beautiful life after.”

World Cancer Research Fund’s CEO, Rachael Hutson, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to Riccardo for turning such personal challenges into something positive. His experience, from a cancer diagnosis at such young age to the loss of his father, is the reality faced by so many families and shows why our work is so important. We will be cheering him on every step of the way.”

Now more than two decades in remission, Riccardo reflects both on the treatment that saved his life and the people behind it.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have survived and forever indebted to the healthcare professionals who treated me… and people I haven’t met too. Chemotherapy was developed and refined thanks to the tireless efforts of many scientists and I’m here today because of them.”

This gratitude is the driving force behind his fundraising efforts for World Cancer Research Fund.

“Now I’m focused on helping others. I’m taking on the London Marathon to help people diagnosed today who may not be as lucky as I was.”

You can show Riccardo your support by visiting the link below: