John Osborn has crossed the finishing line on his 100th parkrun after taking part in a clinical trial at Torbay Hospital which is paving the way for blood cancer patients to receive personalised treatment.
John was diagnosed with Myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, in December 2024. The condition sees cancerous blood cells (plasma cells) accumulate within the bone marrow and stop it working properly. It can affect different parts of the body, including the bones, kidneys and immune system, and is more common as you get older. It cannot be cured, but there are a number of treatment options available to control the disease, relieve symptoms and increase life expectancy.
Following his diagnosis, John took part in a national clinical trial known as Myeloma XV RADAR which offers patients personalised care according to their diagnosis and how well they respond to initial treatment. Previously, treatment for Myeloma has been a one size fits all approach, even if a patient had high risk abnormalities at diagnosis.
While on the trial, John had four cycles of chemotherapy as induction treatment and then transferred to the standard of care team. He also had a stem cell transplant outside of the trial. After the procedure, John was reassessed by the trials team and rejoined RADAR where his treatment continued.
During his treatment, avid park runner John realised he was nearing a significant event milestone, which he was determined to complete. He said: “Within three and a half weeks of my stem cell transplant, I was recovering in hospital and trying to gain strength, walking around my room to start rebuilding my fitness levels.
“It was while I was in hospital that I realised I was just four jogs away from completing 100 parkruns. This is something I had been doing over many years to help keep fit and which ultimately had been a trigger for me to visit my doctor with back and pelvic pain which led to my Myeloma diagnosis.”
Fast forward to July 2026 when, supported by Torbay’s nursing team from the RADAR trials programme, John achieved his goal of completing his 100th parkrun, exactly one year to the day since his stem cell transplant.
John said: “It wasn’t a personal best but was it a way to show the progress I’d made during such a challenging year. The support I’ve had and continue to receive from everyone at Torbay Hospital who’s involved with the trials, I cannot commend enough. Myeloma is a lifelong challenge, but I have set objectives way into the future to ensure life is lived to the full together with my family and friends.”
Dr Heather Eve, Consultant Haematologist and Principal Investigator of the RADAR trial said: “It is fantastic to hear such a positive story from John, and how his Myeloma treatment and involvement within the RADAR trial allowed him to achieve such an important physical milestone.
“100 park runs is no mean feat for anyone, but to do it one year after a transplant is even more impressive! We know that not all myelomas behave in the same way and hope the results from RADAR will ultimately mean everyone gets personalised treatment, for example the most effective drugs for them as an individual.
“By taking part in RADAR, John is one of many patients helping shape the future of Myeloma care so hopefully we will see increasing numbers of success stories like this. Thank you for sharing John – and keep park running!”
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