07 Apr 2026
A St Albans man inspired by his mum’s battle against four different cancer is taking on the London Marathon to raise vital funds for a world-leading research centre.
Steve Phillips, who celebrates his 50th birthday that same weekend, is running to raise vital funds for The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR) alongside his 18-year-old son, Ethan.
Steve’s mum, Annette Phillips, 73, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022 and subsequently discovered she also had separate primary cancers in the kidney and lung. She went through several major surgeries, including a mastectomy, partial nephrectomy and the partial removal of her lung – and in 2024 was delighted to receive the news that she was in remission from them all.
However, shortly afterwards, a routine scan revealed she had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). She was told this was not curable, but she is able to live a reasonably normal life at the moment and hopes that she will continue doing so for many years.
Steve said: “My mum’s strength, resilience and determination to keep fighting inspire me every day. But sadly, too many families have to face similar challenges.
“My mum has been lucky in that all her cancers have been identified and removed very quickly, giving her the best chance of a successful outcome. But I know that cancer can take many forms and while there have already been huge advances in identification techniques and treatments, we are still at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to beating this disease.
“Without further research, we will not be able to push forward in making new discoveries needed to unlock the complexities and nuances within the ecosystem of cancer. We need more research to be able to treat the disease effectively and to hopefully prevent it in the future.”
Steve has previously run 10 different marathons, six full distance Ironman events and numerous other triathlons, but it’s Ethan’s first full marathon.
Steve said: “I will be turning 50 on the weekend of the London Marathon and Ethan turned 18 in January. We are both keen runners and had always planned to do a marathon
together, so with us both celebrating significant milestones this year, it seemed the right time to take one on.”
The pair are hoping to complete the course in under two hours 50 minutes and have set themselves the target of raising £5,000 for The Institute of Cancer Research.
Steve added: “Nothing would make me prouder than to support an amazing charity and to cross the finish line at the 2026 London Marathon together with my son – with my incredible mum, family and friends all there cheering us on.”
Sports and challenge events officer at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, Rachael Potter said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Steve and Ethan and all of our #teamICR runners taking part in this year’s London Marathon. Training for a marathon while fundraising is a huge commitment, and we continue to be inspired by the determination and passion shown by our supporters.
“We hope Steve and Ethan and all our runners feel motivated knowing they are helping to make a real difference for people affected by cancer. Every pound raised helps drive our research forward, and every mile brings us closer to a future where cancer can be defeated.”
To support Steve and Ethan and raise funds for our vital research, click here.
