Cambridge Institute Scientist Set For World Duathlon Championship

A Great British athlete and Cancer Research UK Cambridge scientist is set to take part in World Duathlon Championships in Spain and raise funds for vital research.

Ian Hall, Principal Scientific Associate at the Cambridge Institute, recently qualified for the elite event as part of the GB Age-Group Team after coming seventh in his age group.

Later this month the 47-year-old will be competing against some of the best athletes in the world as he takes part in a 10k run, 40k bike ride and 5k run.

Ian, from St Ives in Cambridgeshire, has been fitting in his gruelling duathlon training between his life-saving work and a strict fitness programme, which involves early morning starts to fit in time on his bike and running during his lunch breaks. He said: “It’s tough to get up and out training before work sometimes but having a goal like a world championship keeps me motivated. Knowing the challenges people face every day in their battle with cancer keeps me grounded, and being able to raise money for CRUK and help their research is always inspiring and a driver to keep going.”

Ian, who has worked at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute for 14 years supporting the charity’s scientists with their research into many different types and aspects of cancer, knows only too well the power of research and the need for vital funds.

Research at the Institute, which is part of the University of Cambridge, focuses on understanding every stage of the cancer life cycle – how tumours grow and spread and how this is impacted by the characteristics of each individual patient. By studying how tumours develop, adapt, and interact with their surroundings, scientists aim to uncover crucial insights into their behaviour.

Ian said: “As a scientist working in a Core Facility, I support many different research groups with a wide range of research interests. It’s very inspiring to work with so many fantastic scientists in such a diverse field, knowing work carried out here can have real world benefits to people’s lives.”

Ian, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer aged just 62, added: “I’m raising money for Cancer Research UK, a charity that continues to prevent, increase early identification and develop cures for over 200 types of cancer. My family has been affected by cancer, as have so many families in the UK and I understand research is key to eradicating this dreadful disease. I’m taking part for those of us who have lost family to this dreadful disease, for those of us who have friends undergoing treatment and facing that daily challenge with such positivity, and for all of us who are touched directly and indirectly by cancer. Cancer is just so unfair.”

Thanks to research, cancer death rates have fallen by 10% percent in the UK over the past decade.* But in the East of England, around 37,400 people are still diagnosed,** and around 15,700 lose their lives*** to the disease every year – underlining the vital need for new and better treatments.

Last year the super-fit scientist raised over £1k by climbing Britain’s highest peaks, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden. This year he’s determined to raise even more money while highlighting the need for vital research. He continued: “I want to take this opportunity to try and raise money for Cancer Research UK to continue their life saving and life enhancing research. Please donate anything you can spare to help CRUK and together we can look for a future where lives are longer, better and life is lived with all of our loved ones and maybe a little bit more fair.”

 

Visit Ian’s fundraising page

** Based on the average annual number of new cases of all cancers combined excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD10 C00-C97 excluding C44) diagnosed in the East Region of England in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

*** Based on the average annual number of deaths from all cancers (ICD-10 C00 – C97) in the East Region of England in 2018, 2019 and 2021.