'Local legend' who completed over 100 half marathons fights for life-saving treatment after rare lung cancer diagnosis
Christian Clarke has run for charities including Cancer Research and hopes to get back to running again.
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The Source Exclusive: ‘Local legend’ who completed over 100 half marathons fights for life-saving treatment after rare lung cancer diagnosis
Christian Clarke, 62, who beat cancer as a teenager is determined to be back out running again
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
AUGUST 8, 2025
A ‘local legend’ who has completed over 100 half marathons for charities including Cancer Research is fighting for a potentially life-saving treatment after being diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer.
‘Fit and active’ grandfather Christian Clarke who is ‘loved by everyone’ in his hometown of Stockport, Greater Manchester - battled leukaemia as a teenager and watched his father die of prostate cancer.
After surviving a life-threatening illness the first time and feeling determined to live to the fullest - now aged 62, Christian says doctors told him he has cancer in his lungs.
Since having surgery to remove the mass, the avid runner says medical staff then found a rare cancer tumour which does not respond to chemotherapy, as well as a lesion on his brain and prostate.
However, with the father-of-three receiving care which is “palliative in nature” at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, his family now says there is hope that their ‘cheerful’ and ‘positive’ dad could be cured with the help of a new drug.
A possibly lifesaving treatment available privately which has shown encouraging results in treating breast cancer, has a ‘good chance’ of curing the 62-year-old, his family say.
However, the drug called trastuzumab deruxtecan also known as Enhertu costs between an estimated £2000-£4000 per dose and requires several rounds, they added.
As doctors haven’t indicated how long they can prolong Christian’s life, his two daughters and son have quickly set up a fundraiser to pay for the new treatment and save their dad.
They also plan to take part in a walk for their fight which they hope their ‘deeply loved’ father who can no longer run like he used to – will be able to join in.
Christian says he was initially diagnosed with a treatable lung cancer months after his daughter’s friend who works as a nurse told him to go to A&E for his persistent cough.
The five-time full marathon runner says if it wasn’t for her, he may not have gone as he hadn’t thought it was anything to worry about due to his healthy lifestyle.
Speaking exclusively to The Source Christian said: “That's the only reason I went to [Stepping Hill Hospital A&E].
“I was still running and for me, I had this little cough and the cough has never affected me from doing the activities like cycling and running. I thought nothing of it and I just continued.
“If it wasn't for my daughter Jody's friend who was a nurse working in the A&E department saying, ‘Oh, get your dad to come and get checked out and everything’, [I wouldn’t have gone].
“I thought, you know, with me being an athlete, that sort of thing. But I got it checked out.”
Christian’s daughter Jody Webb, 32, says her dad was first told he had pneumonia but after being referred for a CT scan, he received the devastating news.
Three days into the following year, the athlete who has “never smoked a day in his life” was told he had lung cancer.
After having surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on January 24, 2025, Christian says he then began chemotherapy shortly after.
But tragedy struck once more as the runner was told that doctors had discovered another tumour caused by an ERBB2 (HER2) gene mutation which occurs in only 1–2% of lung cancer patients with little to no history of smoking.
The dad was also informed the cancer has spread.
Christian said: “I still don't believe it now because I feel healthy. I still feel okay, you know. After all what I've been through. I feel healthy.
“But after the chemotherapy, you get the steroids and that's what affects me.
“Having all these chemicals pumped into my body that makes me tired. You get bloated, your digestive system doesn't work.
“It was only for me complaining that my stomach was never right [that I found out I had the tumour]. I mentioned it to one of the student doctors then she put me for another scan.
“When I went back to the oncologist, I think three weeks later - I asked her about the scan and then I said, "Oh yes, we'll have to check on that."
“But they're so busy at the hospitals, you know, they're seeing so many people. I waited half an hour and they took me back in the room and that's when they showed me the tumour and said its more aggressive and it's grown.”
But Christian says he’s remaining positive about the situation as he says he was raised to ‘get on with life’.
The runner said: “I just get on with it. It’s life. As long as you’re fit and you can walk, just enjoy your time.”
The 63-year-old says that doctors have even been left ‘surprised’ by the quality of his health while he battles the disease.
He said: “They’re surprised actually because they say they always comment, "Oh, your fitness has got you through all this."
Jody says she’s been inspired by the way her dad has dealt with his diagnosis.
She said: “When we found out the news that it was a rare lung cancer, he was still smiling saying, ‘I'm going to get through this. I'm going to be on my runs.’
“I think the way he's handled it has just been so inspiring and amazing.
“He's always smiled at every appointment. We're so proud of him. We really are.”
Christian’s family will take part in the Bullock Smithy Hike in the Peak District which is held on September 6 and 7, 2025, to raise money for their beloved dad’s treatment.
As Christian cannot run while he receives radiotherapy to reduce the progression of the cancer, he hopes to participate by walking.
Christian said: “I stopped running since my last marathon in October. I do [miss running]. But you know, me going through this, you have to slow down a bit.
“It takes time to recover. So, I’m just walking at the moment. But I’ll be out doing great.”
For more info about the GoFundMe click here.
What a guy! Wishing him all the very best of luck on his health journey. Love to his family too
What an inspiration Christian is!