Marathon for Jon's Pancreatic Cancer treatment

Bryony Fernandez is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Anthony Joseph Ward.

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I am going to run a marathon (the maraJON) in late January 2025 to raise £2000 for my fiancé Jon's life-extending Pancreatic Cancer treatment.

Jon is currently undergoing this treatment at a private oncology clinic in Germany and has been since May 2024, following the suspension of his UK NHS treatment (due to his tumours becoming resistant to the standard chemotherapy options - Folfirinox and Gemcitabine/Abraxine).

His German treatment plan is working! It is stalling the growth and spread of his cancer. It is based on genetic testing of his tumour.

The components of his plan include an immunotherapy called Keytruda (Pembrulizumab), a targeted chemotherapy called Enhertu (Trastuzumab) and a tablet to block the blood vessels to the tumours (Levantanib). These are drugs which are used in the UK, but only to treat breast and stomach cancer.

This means that he cannot obtain them in the UK due to current licensing restrictions, despite the fact that they are proving to be successful. Therefore, Jon continues to travel to Germany once a month to obtain these treatments, which are costly.

He has a realistic chance of complete remission.

I will tell you why -

There is potential that Jon can also receive radiotherapy.

The specific radiotherapy is called PSMA Radiotherapy. We will find out in November whether he can have this radiotherapy or not. This radiotherapy could give Jon years to live.

This, in combination with his age (43), fitness, mindset and the results (to date) of his current treatment plan mean that he has a chance to achieve the (almost) impossible - beating Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

Even if he is not eligible for radiotherapy, the success of his current treatment in Germany is HUGE, and continuing on it will give him longevity and comfort for a far greater time than if he were to not be able to access it.

We therefore need to keep the funds flowing so he can continue to access his treatment in Germany so that the cancer doesn't have time to get the upper hand.

The fundraising efforts (which allowed Jon to kick-start his private treatment) from Jon's adoring friends and family have been nothing short of awe-inspiring. I hope to contribute the ongoing fight to help sustain Jon's treatment, because it is literally keeping him alive.

Please help us at this crucial point in Jon's journey.

Jon is kind, intelligent, creative and talented, determined, and always willing to help others, which is reflected by the success of his fundraisers and the love and support of the people who he has crossed paths with throughout his life.

I am with Jon 24/7 and see how he operates within this utterly terrifying situation. He navigates his days, in the face of premature death, with a bravery and determination which utterly astound me. I care for him as he endures the gruelling side-effects of his treatments and we still find time for smiles, laughs and adventures despite this cruel disease ripping life as we knew it away from us. I love him with every fibre of my being and we want for nothing more than the chance to build a simple life together.

The Marathon "The MaraJon"

I am quite new to running. I took it up in 2023, and leant on it during the most stressful time of my life (when Jon's cancer began to spread and grow in December 2023).

During our darkest times when we were crippled with terror and overwhelm (after we learned that his cancer had spread after previously thinking it had gone - see later section for more details), Jon would make music and I would run (as well having extensive discussions about "things", crying together, and still finding time to live our new lives the best we could).

To date, I have only run a handful of 10k's so this marathon will be a challenge as it is 42k.

It will also be extra challenging as we head into winter - I fully expect to be faced with dark, cold mornings and nights, wind and rain as I train for the distance.

I am shooting for at least a sub-5 hour marathon.

I am going to run the marathon in January 2025. (Exact date will be confirmed nearer the time - depending on weather and Jon's treatment dates).

This will allow approximately 16 weeks of training, with an extra 2/3 weeks leeway if I have to miss training due to injury, illness or if Jon needs extra support for any reason.

The route will look something like this...

Disclaimer - Any major (negative) changes to Jon's health will mean that I will need to pause my training so the marathon date will be adjusted accordingly (99% sure that this won't happen).

Why £2000? Why January?

£2000 will cover half the cost for Jon's immunotherapy for 1 month.

January is particularly grim, which makes this extra tough.

If 100 people donate £20 to this fundraiser, we will hit target!!!

Your money will be used for this treatment, which is keeping Jon alive.

Jon's Cancer Timeline

2021 - 2023 - Repeat visits to GP with fatigue - dismissed as "nothing to worry about".
April 2023 - Visit to GP with shoulder pain - dismissed as "pulled muscle".
June 2023 - Admitted to hospital for 3 weeks after his shoulder pain increased and began to develop jaundice with intense abdominal pain. While he was in hospital, a 3.6cm mass on his pancreas was identified. He was told there was a 50/50 chance it could be cancer.
August 2023 - Jon had a 5 hour operation to remove the growth. He was told that the growth was cancer. He was also told that the cancer had not spread to any other organs but should commence chemotherapy as a precaution.
November 2023 - Jon started chemotherapy (Folfirinox - 2 cycles).
Early December 2023 - Jon had a scan following admission to hospital due to sepsis (which developed due to immunosuppression caused by his chemotherapy). The scan showed that he had several new tumours on his liver.
Late December 2023 - Jon began a different chemotherapy (Gemcitabine & Abraxine under the umbrella of "Palliative Care").
April 2024 - His treatment was suspended because the tumours grew by 1cm.
May 2024 - Private treatment obtained in Germany. This involved extensive genetic testing of his tumour to create a genetically targeted, bespoke treatment plan.
August 2024 - Disease Stabilised - no more metastases, 2 tumours resolved, one large tumour to go.
October 2024 - Investigating Radiotherapy options with the aim of complete remission!!!

Jon doing what he loves at Hadra festival.

Jon after his 5 hour operation to remove his primary tumour in August 2023.

Still smiling after receiving the news that his cancer had metastasised (moved) to his liver in Early December 2023.

Jon at his first chemotherapy session in November 2023.

She said yes!!!! ❤️ Picture taken January 2024.

Jon and his little brother Alex, who kick-started the fundraising effort in May 2024 to obtain private treatment abroad, inspiring and encouraging Jon's friends and family to launch fundraisers. This couldnt have been possible without you.