Chief pharmacist at The Royal Marsden takes on “ridiculously tough” challenge
Professor Rob Duncombe took on a gruelling five-day ultra-trek through the Amazon rainforest to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
In June 2024, Professor Rob Duncombe, Chief Pharmacist at The Royal Marsden, ran and climbed 230km over five days through Manu National Park in Peru. This multi-day ultramarathon also saw him carrying all his equipment and supplies as he pushed through dense jungle.
Raising funds for drug development research
Rob took on the challenge to fundraise for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The money he raises will go towards early phase drug development research at The Royal Marsden, supporting the development and testing of new drugs and drug combinations for lung and thoracic cancers. This research is particularly important to help find new ways of treating cancers that have become resistant to existing drugs.
Rob said: “It was the most ridiculously tough thing I’ve ever done – totally off the scale. This isn't my first ultramarathon, I've also done one in the Sahara, but this was even harder than that!"
"By far the toughest moment was descending a mountain at night in pitch darkness – with only a head torch to guide me through the jungle – and surrounded by snakes and other jungle creepy crawlies!"
“However, despite five days of discomfort, it is nothing compared to what our patients go through on their cancer journey and I’m incredibly pleased to have completed this challenge to raise money for early phase drug development at The Royal Marsden. The development of new drugs and trialling new drug combinations is a crucial research area, particularly in finding new ways to tackle cancers which have become resistant to other treatment options.”
Loyal supporter
Rob is no stranger to endurance events, having previously taken on the Marathon Des Sables, an ultramarathon across the desert. He also completed the TCS London Marathon dressed in an eight-foot tall oak tree costume, raising over £4,400 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s fundraising appeal to build the Oak Cancer Centre at The Royal Marsden.
“I want to continue to raise as much as possible for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which makes such an incredible difference not just to patients who come through the doors of the hospital, but around the world,” said Rob.
“In my career, I’ve been proud to see drugs developed through research carried out by my colleagues' progress from very early stages through to being used to treat patients – and the Charity is vital in helping to drive these advances.”
Show your support for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and visit Rob's fundraising page.
Feeling inspired?
A huge thank you to Rob for his incredible support for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Would you like to take on a fitness challenge and raise funds for a brilliant cause? Find the perfect event to suit you.
Read more inspiring stories on our blog