Late actor Alan Rickman had "so much more" to offer the world, his wife Rima Horton has said.
Rima Horton was raising awareness of the importance of early detection of pancreatic cancer, at Tower Bridge, central London, where almost 800 pairs of trainers which represent the number of people who die from this disease each year, have been laid to rest ahead the London Marathon, which takes place this Sunday (April 27).
Overall, 797 trainers were donated by survivors and bereaved families, including Gavin and Stacey actor Alison Steadman, The Hobbit star Richard Armitage, and TV chef Ainsley Harriott, who have all lost their mothers through this form of cancer.
British actor, Alan Rickman, who starred as Professor Severus Snape in all eight films of the Harry Potter series, passed away from the disease in 2016. He was 69 years old.
The installation was unveiled by charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is located near the halway point for the 26.2 mile next Sunday.
"I got involved with Pancreatic Cancer UK because Alan died of pancreatic cancer, and Alan was only 69 and had so much more to offer the world", Rima Horton said of her work for the charity.
Rima also stated that she "couldn't bear" the thoughts of others suffering in the way her late husband did.
Speaking about her husband's cancer diagnosis, Rima Horton said that it was a "complete shock" to them, adding that Alan had not experienced any "obvious symptoms".
"He had a few minor things. I gather, quite a lot of people with pancreatic cancer do have symptoms two years beforehand, they do go to their doctor, but they’re so nebulous," she said. "And in Alan’s case, backache, maybe some stomach problems, but nothing that you would associate with something like pancreatic cancer, so when he was diagnosed, it was a complete shock".
"I think it knocked us sideways, completely".
Paying tribute to her late husband, Rima Horton said that he was not only an "extraordinary actor", but he was also "incredibly kind", and was always willing to help others.
"If he could make a phone call, if he could write a letter, if he could put two people in touch with people, he did", she said.
"I know people say to me often when they’re in any sort of difficult situation: 'Now, what would Alan do here?’ because he did have a reputation of being not just wise, he just had a very good intuition about things and about people which is one of the reasons he was a good actor".
Alan Rickman's niece, Ellie Thompson, is a marathon runner who is also taking part in Sunday's event in his honour.
"He didn’t have his own children so he treated me and my brother like his children and, sadly, he was taken from us too soon", she said of her uncle. "We didn’t get to spend any time with him after his diagnosis".
"He didn’t get any time to register the news, we didn’t get any time to digest the news, and then somehow we were at his funeral, and we were like: ‘How did we get here?’, she added. "It all happened too fast".
Ellie Thompson also revealed that by the time her uncle was diagnosed, it was "too late" to treat the disease.
According to reports, around 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK each year, with more than half of them dying within three months of their diagnosed. Less than 7% of those diagnosed live for five years.
Pancreatic Cancer UK have recommended anyone who is experiencing one or more of the most common symptoms, including indigestion, back pain, stomach pain and weight loss for more than four weeks, should consult their GP, while anyone suffering with jaundice, yellowing of the eyes or skin, should go to A&E immediately.
As it stands, there are currently no early detection tests, and four in every five people are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread, meaning that life saving treatment is no longer possible.
Pancreatic Cancer UK is the Charity of the Year for this year's London Marathon.
