“It was amazing to carry the Yorkshire Cancer Research Baton for Yorkshire and walk alongside the people who have been there for me during my cancer treatment.” – Josie’s experience

As part of the Yorkshire Cancer Research We Walk for Yorkshire 2026 fundraising campaign, researchers, people with cancer and charity supporters are coming together this May to take part in a Yorkshire-wide baton relay to support life-saving cancer research in the region.

Having started its month-long journey at the new Yorkshire Cancer Research centre in Hull on 30 April, the Baton for Yorkshire will travel through 35 locations across the region to recognise the 35,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire each year.

Kicking off the baton relay and the first person to carry the Baton for Yorkshire is 60-year-old Josie Clark, from near Bridlington, who was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2025.  

After trying her local Parkrun in Sewerby on her 57th birthday, Josie quickly fell in love with running in Yorkshire’s great outdoors. Between then and May 2025, she completed 96 parkruns over two years, aiming to reach 100 by July 2025. 

Josie also began taking part in various 5k races with her best friend of nearly five decades, Annette.

Josie said: “Walking and running is such an important part of my life. Annette and I are both slightly obsessed with running and we can get quite competitive about it too!”

Unfortunately, Josie’s cherished exercise routine came to a halt when she found a lump on her leg in May 2025.  

Josie admitted: “I didn’t have any other symptoms, so I ignored the bump for a few weeks before eventually deciding it was best to go to the doctor. I was referred for a biopsy and not long afterwards was diagnosed with nodular melanoma.”

Nodular melanoma is a type of rapidly growing skin cancer which appears as a firm, raised growth on the skin. Around 32 people in Yorkshire every week are told they have a melanoma skin cancer, and sadly, 4 people die.  

Skin cancer is closely linked to ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, which comes from the sun or artificial sources like sunbeds. However, even on a cloudy day in spring and summer, a significant amount of UV rays can reach the skin and potentially cause harm. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research is funding £75 million of vital cancer research and services so more people in Yorkshire live longer healthier lives, free of cancer. This includes finding innovative ways to prevent more people developing cancer and raising awareness about risk factors for cancer, including sun damage.  

People can stay safe in the sun by covering up, spending time in the shade and re-applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every two hours. For anyone taking part in We Walk for Yorkshire, the charity encourages walkers to remember sun cream and hats to help protect against the sun while out walking. Josie had surgery in June 2025 to remove the skin cancer.

Due to how fast nodular melanoma can develop, she had a follow-up scan in August. Here, doctors discovered the cancer had unfortunately spread to her lymph nodes.  

Josie said: “Within a matter of weeks, I had another lump the size of a golf ball. Thankfully, I was able to have immunotherapy treatment which shrank it down to basically nothing. I had another surgery in December 2025 to take out six lymph nodes; four of which were cancerous.”

Following her recovery from cancer treatment, Josie has continued to experience difficulties with her health. A body scan in early April detected nodules in her lung, which doctors hope to rule out as cancerous through further testing. Unexpectedly, Josie also lost half the vision in her left eye, and she is currently waiting to learn the cause.

Despite these challenges, Josie remains hopeful. At the beginning of 2026, she was eager and able to get back to exercise.  

Since January, Josie has been building her fitness back up by walking with her community. She recently took part in the annual Headscarf Hustle event, which this year involved a 5k walk starting at The Deep and along Victoria Docks.

Josie was also able to return to her beloved parkrun and reach week 100, a goal she accomplished alongside her son and daughter.

Josie reflected: “I missed out on lots of moments with my loved ones last year because of cancer, but they’ve been an amazing source of support during this whole experience. After I finished my 100th parkrun, people brought cakes and we had an ‘after-run’ party. I’m so thankful to cancer treatment for allowing me to get back to a normal, active life.” 

Now, to show how far she’s come along, Josie has signed up to the Yorkshire Cancer Research We Walk for Yorkshire 2026 challenge. She aims to walk 35 miles throughout the month of May – symbolising the 35,000 people in the region who are told they have cancer every year.

She said: “The Yorkshire coast and countryside is a wonderful place to walk. It’s very rural where I live, with lots of trails along water, and I like what it does for your mind. Walking is so mentally beneficial for you.”

Josie’s community have come together to support the pioneering work of Yorkshire Cancer Research, reaching over £1,500 already to help the charity find and bring new cancer cures to people in Yorkshire.

Josie’s friends from parkrun also joined her as they completed an additional leg of the Yorkshire Cancer Research baton relay at Sewerby Cliffs on 1 May.