Liana’s London Marathon 2025
Why Liana Runs – and Who She’s Running For
When someone you love is fighting for their life, you want to do something, anything, to help. For Liana France, that means running the London Marathon 2025 dressed as a pair of inflatable lungs.
She’s running for her friend Charlie Maxwell – a strong, active, 44-year-old Army veteran who, just five weeks before retiring after 22 years of service, was diagnosed with stage non-smoking IV lung cancer. Like many, she had no idea that someone like her – fit, healthy and a never-smoker – could get lung cancer.
It’s an incurable diagnosis. But Charlie’s meeting it head-on with targeted treatment and an unwavering spirit. Liana is running alongside her not just in solidarity, but to help change the story for others like her.
“I asked Charlie who she wanted to raise money for,” says Liana. “She said the Ruth Strauss Foundation. We both agreed the Foundation is an amazing charity and does an incredible amount of research for those directly affected by these diagnoses of lung cancer.”
Charlie Maxwell, a devoted Army professional with 22 years of service, was just five weeks from retirement when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.
Liana’s Mission
Backed by Her Career in Care
Liana is no stranger to high-stakes decision-making or healthcare challenges. She works full-time as Safe and Effective Care Lead in the NHS, providing strategic oversight across 10 clinical collaboratives. Her role focuses on improving care quality, patient safety, clinical effectiveness and risk management – all to ensure better outcomes for patients and families.
Her marathon isn’t just personal. It reflects the same values that drive her work: putting people first, advocating for early diagnosis and ensuring no one is left behind.
”“Liana’s impact is extraordinary, not just in raising vital funds, but in helping more people understand the realities of non-smoking lung cancers and the people affected. We’re so proud to have her running in support of Charlie – and for all the families we support and the research we fund."
Ines ThiruCEO, Ruth Strauss Foundation
The Hidden Crisis of Non-Smoking Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the UK’s deadliest cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, around 47,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year and it accounts for more than 1 in 5 cancer deaths – more than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined.
Of those diagnosed, around 15% have never smoked – yet these non-smoking lung cancers remain underfunded, under-recognised and dangerously misunderstood.
The diagnosis is more common in women and disproportionately affects those under the age of 55. Symptoms are often vague – a persistent cough, breathlessness, fatigue – and frequently mistaken for other illnesses. Many GPs and healthcare professionals still don’t associate these symptoms with lung cancer in never-smokers, leading to late diagnoses and fewer treatment options.
At RSF, we believe that non-smoking lung cancers are not rare – they’re just rarely recognised.
Non-smoking lung cancer can affect anyone – even those who’ve never smoked. At RSF, we’re working to raise awareness, improve diagnosis and fund research for the cancers you don’t see coming.
What the Ruth Strauss Foundation Is Doing About It
Since 2019, the Ruth Strauss Foundation has invested £775,000 in research to improve outcomes and understanding of non-smoking lung cancer. That funding supports:
- TracerX, a cutting-edge, CRUK-funded study examining how lung cancers evolve and how to treat them effectively.
- Education for GPs and healthcare professionals to help them spot non-smoking lung cancer symptoms sooner.
- Collaborations with EGFR+ UK and ALK+ UK, driving awareness for oncodriven cancers like Charlie’s.
- Workshops and knowledge-sharing initiatives, uniting global researchers to accelerate progress in early diagnosis, treatment and future cures.
We’re also helping to reshape the national conversation. Ruth herself – a healthy, active, non-smoker – was blindsided by her diagnosis. Like many others, she didn’t know she was at risk. That’s why we say: Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.
Our goal is simple – more research, more awareness, earlier diagnoses, better outcomes.
”"I want people to see me and ask what on earth I’m doing. Then I can tell them about Charlie. About the Ruth Strauss Foundation. About the research that’s changing lives."
Liana FranceSafe and Effective Care Lead, NHS
Let’s Make It Count
Why Liana’s Run Matters
Liana’s run isn’t just about crossing the finish line – it’s about showing up for people like Charlie, who are living with incurable lung cancer. And for the ones who come next.
She’s already raised over £2,000 with the support of 90 donors – but more than that, she’s turning heads. Liana chose to run London Marathon 2025 in a giant inflatable lung costume to start conversations, bust myths and make the invisible visible.
“I want people to see me and ask what on earth I’m doing,” she says. “Then I can tell them about Charlie. About the Ruth Strauss Foundation. About the research that’s changing lives.”
She’s running through back pain and past injuries. But she’s not running for a medal – she’s running for meaning.
“As Charlie puts it: YOLO – You Only Live Once. Let’s make it count.”
Liana France takes on the London Marathon 2025 in inflatable lungs to raise awareness of non-smoking lung cancer.
”"I am incredibly proud of my friend, Liana France, running the London Marathon 2025 in my name. I am so grateful for her unwavering support of me personally. Running the London Marathon and raising money for RSF is just the icing on the cake! Thank you, little sister."
Charlie Maxwell
Support Liana’s London Marathon 2025 for the Ruth Strauss Foundation
By supporting this cause, you’re helping shine a light on the realities of non-smoking lung cancer – and backing the research that could change lives.
