A man battling terminal brain cancer has expressed that his “life’s mission” is to achieve the world record for the most funds raised by a marathon runner.

Iain Ward, a 36-year-old from Streatham, south London, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor, in 2020. This diagnosis came to light during an MRI conducted for a medical trial the previous year.

The content creator, who boasts over 14 million followers on social media, has already garnered more than £350,000 for charity. He now aims to break the existing record of £2.3 million, established in 2011, during the New York City Marathon this November.

Since his diagnosis, Mr. Ward has completed 18 marathons and participated in numerous endurance events.

In the past month, he ran 32 half-marathons over 32 consecutive days throughout Ireland’s 32 counties, all while donning a weighted vest of 32 pounds (approximately 14 kilograms).

Having always been active and healthy, Mr. Ward referred to the cancer discovery as “freakish luck.” He believes that without his involvement in the medical trial, the tumor might have remained unnoticed.

“It’s been incredibly fulfilling because I’ve never really had a clear purpose in my life… until now,” he shared.

“I have a stronger sense of why I’m doing this, and it genuinely makes a positive impact on the world.”

He views his mission as addressing the struggles faced by cancer patients and aims to raise funds to assist them, while also promoting the significance of fitness.

Originally from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Mr. Ward relocated to London in 2014, where he worked as a fitness instructor and participated in paid medical trials.

A scan prior to one of these trials in 2019 identified a tumor that doctors initially believed to be benign.

“If the MRI had focused on a different area of my body, it might not have been found,” he noted.

Six months later, further examinations confirmed it was malignant and progressing.

Following surgery, he was given a prognosis indicating an average life expectancy of around five years.

“I might be gone in a year, or I could live to the far end of the average. It could be up to 10, maybe even 15 years,” Mr. Ward remarked.

“I didn’t really have the chance to mourn or feel anxious… it was such a shock that I couldn’t process it.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Ward started sharing his journey online by launching a YouTube channel.

He shifted his focus to fundraising through marathons, inspired by the Guinness World Record held by Baptist minister Steve Chalke in 2011.

“I thought it would be a good idea to raise money for charity while sharing my story,” he said.

“I found out about the marathon fundraising record and decided, ‘I’ll challenge that.'”

Mr. Ward mentioned that he has met Mr. Chalke, who set his record for Oasis UK during the London Marathon.

“He offered me plenty of advice on how to pursue it, but jokingly warned that if I beat his record, he’d try to reclaim it from me,” he laughed.

His fundraising initiatives have included completing a 52-mile (approximately 83 kilometers) “double marathon” on a treadmill in 12 hours while undergoing chemotherapy, as well as tackling six major marathons throughout 2024.

He is also featured in a new documentary titled The Endfluencers, produced by end-of-life charity Marie Curie and retailer Superdrug. This film highlights individuals using social media to share their experiences with terminal illnesses.

“I want to be treated like anyone else,” he expressed.

“However, it’s great to participate in a documentary that will showcase the various ways people cope with terminal conditions.”