John Ashton is a lecturer at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, at the University of Otago. At the age of 48 he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer after a chronic cough did not respond to anti-asthma medication. John had never smoked.

In October 2015, John was appointed Lung Cancer Patient Ambassador for the Lung Foundation to provide a voice for lung cancer patients where he is free to speak about his journey as a patient and share his experience and learnings as well as speaking to key advocacy priorities.

Read more about John’s story here.