Jon (42) needs your help and he needs it fast. He is fighting for his life against the cruel, aggressive and highly lethal disease which is Pancreatic Cancer (Stage 4).

Pancreatic Cancer without targeted treatment currently has one of the highest mortality rates of all cancers.

Jon was diagnosed in June 2023.

The primary tumour was removed in August 2023 via a HUGE open surgery on his abdomen, called a Whipple Procedure. He thought he was out of the woods.

His entire world was ripped apart in November 2023 when a scan revealed that the cancer had already spread to his liver, despite the surgery.

He has endured 8 months of chemotherapy on the NHS to try and control the tumours. During his chemotherapy treatment, Jon endured immuno-suppression induced sepsis, depression and blood clots, lifelong medication (blood thinners, pancreatic enzymes) and scaring with months of excruciating pain from his Whipple Procedure, teamed with opioid withdrawal from the amount of pain medication he required during recovery.

The disease has been slowly ripping Jon’s life from him – friendship, love, ambition and music was replaced with terror, fatigue and crippling overwhelm.

Despite the gruelling nature of the past 10 months, Jon has kept remarkably fit. He has been walking, talking and laughing most days with his fiance Bryony (28). He has also maintained a carefully crafted diet to promote healing and combat chemotherapy toxicity. Jon’s family, particularly his Mum (Valerie), Dad (Tony), little brother Alex, and friends have been a vital source of support, grounding and laughter throughout this intensely difficult time.

In April 2024, the NHS determined that the chemotherapy was ineffective (as the tumours were still growing – albeit slowly).

Jons treatment was therefore suspended by the NHS.

As you can imagine this was a devastating decision imposed upon us against our wishes. So, together, we launched a campaign to raise funds to obtain private treatment abroad, offering genetically targeted treatment options.

Remission is still possible, with the right treatment, if it is given quickly while Jon is still healthy. Each day that goes by with Jon left untreated, decreases his chances of remission.

The medical bills for such advanced treatments are beyond the Ward families’ capabilities. The financial strain is exacerbated by Jon’s inability to work due to fatigue. With your help, we can alleviate some of the financial burden of this life-saving treatment, giving Jon the opportunity to fight the disease into remission. (Which is still possible, if we act quickly).

Jon would like nothing more than to create a life with his fiancée Bryony. They are deeply in love and have plans to start a family and pursue a simple but meaningful life for as long as they possibly can. Bryony is a driving force behind Jon’s search for treatment and will stop at nothing to make sure that Jon has the chance of life that they so deeply wish for.

Jon is a talented artist. He wishes to create and share his music and art with the world to spread love, acceptance and beauty. He is cherished by his family, friends and community and has always shown compassion for others, helping to teach new skills to his friends, and listening and providing help when times have been hard. Once his health has stabilised Jon wishes to return to his design business that he has worked extremely hard to build over the last 13 years and lept running through difficult times such as covid and recession.

Unfortunately this is not the first time that Jon’s life has been touched by cancer. His best friend James Dean was cruelly taken at age 37 which was devastating to all friends and family. May he Rest In Peace.