A medical trial that Iain Ward joined in 2019 led to an unexpected discovery that changed his life.
asserted
that → join → life
An MRI scan revealed a brain tumour, although doctors initially believed it was benign.
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it → reveal → tumour
Around six months later, further scans showed that the tumour was growing.
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tumour → show → ?
Ward underwent brain surgery and was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2020, according to reporting based on his account.
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Ward → undergo → account
He later became known online as “The King of Chemo” while sharing his experience of cancer treatment, running and fundraising.
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He → know → treatment
Rather than repeatedly asking followers for donations, he has built an online audience and worked with sponsors who contribute directly to charities.
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who → ask → charities
Ward has completed numerous endurance challenges and said he had raised more than £350,000 by 2025.
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he → complete → 2025
His long-term goal is to surpass the marathon fundraising record of £2,330,159.38.
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goal → surpass → 2,330,159.38
A medical trial unexpectedly revealed the brain tumour
Ward's cancer was discovered while he was taking part in medical trials to earn extra money.
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he → reveal → money
Before one trial in 2019, he underwent an MRI scan of his brain even though he had no symptoms or warning signs.
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he → undergo → symptoms
Doctors initially believed the tumour was benign, meaning Ward did not immediately face a cancer diagnosis.
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Ward → believe → diagnosis
About six months later, however, another scan showed that the tumour had grown.
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tumour → show → ?
Ward said doctors then believed it was likely to be an aggressive brain cancer.
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it → say → ?
The discovery was particularly unusual because he had not sought medical attention for headaches or other symptoms.
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he → seek → headaches
The Independent reported that Ward was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2020 after the tumour was found to be growing.
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tumour → report → 2020
He underwent awake brain surgery
Ward underwent awake brain surgery as part of his treatment.
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Ward → undergo → treatment
He has described being conscious during the procedure and communicating with medical staff while surgeons worked on his brain.
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surgeons → describe → brain
Awake brain surgery can allow doctors to monitor important functions during an operation, with patients asked to speak or perform certain tasks depending on the area being treated.
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doctors → allow → area
Marie Curie's 2026 interview with Ward records his description of being fully conscious during the operation and actively speaking or engaging with doctors.
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interview → record → doctors
The surgery was followed by his diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour.
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surgery → follow → glioblastoma
Brain Research UK also identifies Ward's condition as glioblastoma and describes the tumour as aggressive and invasive.
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UK → identify → tumour
How Iain Ward became ‘The King of Chemo’
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Ward → become → Chemo
Ward began sharing his experience of cancer treatment and everyday life online, eventually becoming known as “The King of Chemo”.
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Ward → begin → Chemo
His content combines cancer awareness with fitness, running, humour and fundraising rather than focusing exclusively on his illness.
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content → combine → illness
Ward has said that he wants to discuss his condition openly but does not want every aspect of his life to revolve around cancer.
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aspect → say → cancer
His social-media presence grew substantially as he documented his challenges and treatment.
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he → grow → challenges
By 2025, reporting said he had built a following of more than 14 million people across social-media platforms.
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he → report → platforms
The online identity has since become closely associated with his fundraising work and his efforts to raise awareness about living with a terminal illness.
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identity → associate → illness
The marathon fundraising record he wants to break
Ward's ambition to break the marathon fundraising record began shortly after his brain surgery.
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ambition → want → surgery
He told Marie Curie that within two days of the operation he searched for the world record for the most money raised through a marathon and decided that it would become his life goal.
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it → tell → marathon
It concerns the amount of money raised for charity by an individual marathon runner.
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It → concern → runner
The current benchmark is held by Reverend Steve Chalke, who raised £2,330,159.38 for charity through the 2011 London Marathon.
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who → hold → Marathon
Ward has said he wants to surpass that amount through his own fundraising campaign.
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he → say → campaign
His fundraising model puts sponsors at the centre
Ward has developed a fundraising approach based largely on sponsorship rather than asking individual followers to donate money.
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Ward → put → money
He encourages people to follow and engage with his social-media accounts while sponsors provide the financial contributions.
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sponsors → encourage → contributions
He has said sponsors donate directly to charities instead of giving the money to him.
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sponsors → say → him
This model allows an online action, such as gaining new followers or completing a challenge, to become linked to a charitable contribution.
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action → allow → contribution
Ward has described the approach as an attempt to raise money without repeatedly asking people for donations.
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Ward → describe → donations
It has become a central part of his long-term effort to break the marathon fundraising record.
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It → become → record
He had raised more than £350,000 by 2025
Ward's fundraising had already generated more than £350,000 by 2025, according to figures he gave to PA Real Life.
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he → raise → Life
…and 60 more, not listed.
The Aporia
