Siobhan McGeown
Siobhan was inspired to run by her parents (in main picture), who have both had cancer. She says: “After watching both my parents suffer from cancer (ovarian and prostate), as well as several other close family members, I want nothing more than to see better outcomes for cancer diagnoses, as well as better detection and testing before it gets to that stage.”
Angela Brooks (left, wearing cap)
Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 aged only 33. She’s currently in remission but still living with the impact of cancer, including early menopause. Angela told us about her training schedule: “Every 3 weeks, between rounds of chemotherapy, I set myself the goal of completing a 10k run.”
Sam Burton
Sam says: “The decision to run for World Cancer Research Fund is driven by my Father’s recent diagnosis with kidney cancer, an event that has reshaped my perspective on life and illuminated the critical importance of cancer research and advocacy.”
Jack Gibbons and family
Jack Gibbons
This is Jack’s second marathon for us, having also run in 2018. He’s running in memory of his mum, Maggie, who received a diagnosis of very aggressive stage IV melanoma in late 2023 and passed away in January 2024.
Maggie was there to support Jack when he ran his first marathon and was there at the finish line of the London Landmarks half in 2023 to see him over the line. Her support meant the world to Jack and he’s proud to be able to run for her in 2025 and raise money for World Cancer Research Fund.
David Herlihy
David sadly lost his Dad to cancer in April 2024, and his Mum has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 5 years. He’s dedicated to health and fitness, and has completed 5 marathons, an ironman and 2 ultra marathons.
Hannah Stedman
Hannah is running in memory of her amazing Mum, who “had a very quick battle with lung cancer in October 2023. She was diagnosed on the 3rd and had passed by the 24th. To say this experience was the hardest thing of my life is an understatement.”
George White
George is a mortgage broker based in the West Midlands and is motivated to run for us after recently losing his Godfather to cancer.
Eating a wide variety of food may reduce the risk of gastrointestinal cancers, according to research funded by the World Cancer Research Fund network* and published in the European Journal of Cancer.
Little is known about how eating a wide variety of food species, also known as food biodiversity, may benefit our health or affect our cancer risk. Food species refer to a distinct type of plant or animal, such as wheat, chicken, or salmon. For example, salmon, mackerel, and tuna are all separate food species, even though they share some biological traits and belong to the same food group. Similarly, rocket, lettuce and spinach count as separate food species, even though they are all leafy green vegetables. However, chicken and a chicken’s egg belong to the same food species even though they are different types of food.
This study is the first to examine how the number of different food types consumed, measured as Dietary Species Richness (the number of species an individual consumes per year) affects the risk of the following gastrointestinal cancers:
- Oesophagus
- Throat
- Stomach
- Bowel
- Colon
- Rectum
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
- Liver
The study followed 450,111 cancer-free adults in 9 European countries from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort for 14 years. The researchers, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, found that individuals with the most diverse diets, by including more food species in their diet, had a 23% lower risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers compared with those with the least variety. The risk decreased by 6% for every 10 extra species per year added to their diet. People can do this by including more variety in the types of fruit and vegetables they eat, for example, choosing to eat local and seasonal fruit and vegetables of different colours.
Food biodiversity includes eating different types of food that provide the necessary nutrients for maintaining health. Investigating food biodiversity is important because it has the potential to benefit public health and sustainable food systems.
Dr Helen Croker, our Assistant Director of Research and Policy, said: “Diets have become more limited in the types of foods eaten and they are often high in fat, sugar and salt. However, for cancer prevention, it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced and varied diet with plenty of wholegrains, pulses, vegetables and fruit.”
Dr Helen Croker
This study is particularly interesting because it looks at the number of different foods people eat and the impact it can have on their cancer risk, in particular gastrointestinal cancers. More research is now needed to confirm these findings and further explore the link between dietary diversity and cancer prevention.
Dr Inge Huybrechts
This study shows how a more diverse diet, including a large variety of species, could lower the risk of gastrointestinal cancers, emphasising the importance of eating a wide variety of foods. The idea behind a diverse diet consisting of many types of plants and animals species may provide essential nutrients for the body while also strengthening ecosystems, making them more resilient, productive, and sustainable.
This study was funded by Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds based in the Netherlands, as part of the World Cancer Research Fund International network.
Achieving a balanced combination of exercise and controlling our waistline is far more effective in reducing our risk of cancer than doing just one or the other, according to a study funded by World Cancer Research Fund.
In the world’s first study looking at the effectiveness of combining these measures, we found that only doing one is not enough to lower our risk of cancer. The study, which looked at more than 300,000 people, found that:
- People not meeting World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on waist circumference are at 11% greater risk, even if they are physically active.
- People not meeting WHO guidelines for physical exercise are at 4% greater risk, even if “abdominally lean” (ie they have a smaller waist).
- Achieving neither means a 15% greater risk.
The study – WHO guidelines on waist circumference and physical activity and their joint association with cancer risk (Lead researcher: Prof Michael Leitzmann, University of Regensburg) – was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Prof Michael Leitzman
We're excited about the insights we’ve uncovered regarding the interplay between waist circumference and physical activity in reducing cancer risk. Our findings highlight the value of addressing multiple factors together, showing that both maintaining a recommended waist size and being physically active are critical for cancer prevention. This research reinforces the importance of practical, achievable changes that can have a meaningful impact on health over time.
Dr Helen Croker
This is the first study to examine the independent and combined impact of waist circumference and physical activity levels. The findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach instead of focusing on a single factor to reduce cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy weight and, in particular, having a waist circumference within the recommended level and being physically active, along with eating a healthy diet, are all crucial steps to reduce cancer risk. People can start by making small, sustainable changes like incorporating regular movement into daily routines or choosing healthier food options.
World Cancer Research Fund has been at the forefront of cancer prevention in the UK and globally for decades. We developed Activ8, a free 8-week programme to encourage people to move more, eat well and reduce their cancer risk. Every step is backed by science and brings our Cancer Prevention Recommendations to life.
