Claire Bradbury, a former police officer based in Blyth and now living in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, is preparing to run her 14th and final Great North Run to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. This run holds deep personal meaning for Claire, as she is dedicating it to the memory of two of her friend’s partners, both of whom lost their battles with pancreatic cancer.
Claire, 56, originally planned to complete the race when she turned 50, marking her retirement from the police force. However, just seven weeks after retiring, she was diagnosed with breast cancer—a devastating blow that put her running dreams on hold. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, she has now fought her way back to health and is determined to cross the finish line for this vital cause.
“I always intended to run the Great North Run as part of my 50th birthday celebrations, but life had other plans. After my own cancer battle, I want to give back—and pancreatic cancer is so underfunded and under-researched,” said Claire.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 8%—one of the lowest of all common cancers. Unlike other cancers, there is no simple test to detect it early, and symptoms are often vague, leading to late-stage diagnoses when treatment options are limited.
Common early symptoms—back pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, and digestive issues—are often mistaken for other minor conditions, delaying diagnosis. By the time pancreatic cancer is identified, more than 80% of cases are already too advanced for surgery, which is currently the only potential cure.
Mel Jackson, Claire’s friend and fundraising partner, experienced this first hand when her life partner, Stu, was diagnosed in January 2024 and passed away the very next day.
“Stu was diagnosed on a Saturday and passed away on Sunday. That’s how fast it can happen. People don’t recognise the symptoms, and by the time they do, it’s often too late. We need more research, more funding, and more awareness—just like we see with breast cancer,” said Mel. “I’m doing a sponsored walk with my dog Teddy along the prom at Newbiggin to raise funds too.”
Claire’s neighbour, Noeline, lost her husband Steve to the disease in 2020, further strengthening Claire’s resolve to run for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Despite being the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK, pancreatic cancer receives only 3% of cancer research funding. With no significant improvement in survival rates in over 50 years, urgent research is needed to develop earlier detection methods and better treatments.
Claire is determined to help change this. By running her final Great North Run, she hopes to raise as much money as possible to support Pancreatic Cancer UK, which funds research, provides patient support, and campaigns for earlier diagnosis.
Claire has set up a JustGiving page where people can donate directly to Pancreatic Cancer UK to support research and support services for patients and their families.
Although this will be Claire’s final Great North Run, she will continue to run with Morpeth based These Girls Can Run at Park Runs and local 10k races.
“This will be an emotional and inspiring run for me and marks the end of an era in my half marathon running, but it’s the beginning of greater awareness and support for pancreatic cancer research.”
You can donate to Claire here: