Back in 2014 my Dad Ian Brown was diagnosed with cancer. A scan revealed a tumour on his right lung and secondary tumours in his lymphatic system. He was told he had 6 months to live.

On the 1st September 2014 Dad had surgery to remove his right lung and 21 lymph nodes at the Spire Hospital in Bristol. 2 weeks later he was out enjoying lunch with the family!

In January 2015 against all medical advice, Dad started running to enhance his fitness and raise money and hope for Cancer Research UK.

During the next 18 month period he ran and completed the following

• Bristol 5k Colour run with the whole family 
• Race 4 Men 10k (August 2015)
  
• Cheltenham Half Marathon ( September 2015)
• London Marathon (April 2016) raising over £20k 

Sadly in September 2016 Dad collapsed on a 8 mile training run for New York Marathon. He banged his head and received a brain scan at Gloucester Royal Hospital. 

In October 2016 he was sadly diagnosed with A Typical Carcinoid and the scan revealed 12 brain tumours. By the 15th October 2016 he under went brain surgery to have the biggest of the tumours removed as well as part of his skull. This was followed by an intensive course of radiotherapy to shrink the remaining tumours. 

As you've guessed, no less than 2 weeks later he was back running again. This time he completed Kingsway Park Run (a favourite meet with all his friends) with his youngest boy Freddy. 

During the next few months he completed 

• Race 4 Men 10k (July 2017)
• Bristol Half Marathon (September 2017)
• Park Run every weekend either running or volenteering 
• Relay For Life with his team "Living The Dream" 

He became the British representative of relay for life - Global Heroes of hope in December 2017. 

In 2018 one of his brain tumours had grown significantly. He required another brain operation in August 2018 at Southmead hospital. He was under the knife for 5 hours. Shortly after the operation during the night, he suffered a bleed on the brain and the whole family was called to the hospital at 1am. The amazing team at the hospital stopped the bleed but he was kept incubated on a ventilator for the next few days. Shortly after they brought him round he was asking the surgeon if he could go home because he needed to run!! 

In the following weeks he received intensive Gamma Knife treatment (more intense than radiotherapy)

In October 2018 Dad was nominated for ITV west country Pride Of Britain Regional awards for fundraiser of the year. He won and was surprised with the presentation from TV presenter and weather man Alex Beresford,  he was invited to the Pride Of Britain ceremony where he rubbed shoulder with the likes of Simon Cowell, John Bishop, Ross Kemp, Dr Hillary and Amanda Holden. After all he did raise in excess of £50,000

Moving on to March 2019 Dad needed another tumour removing as it was pressing on his brain and effecting his stability. Shortly after his surgery we went to visit him on the high dependancy ward where we found him sat up eating a jam sandwich!! The next day he was told off by the nurses for wandering around trying to find a WIFI signal 

Dad always remained hopeful and wanted to show others that "you aren't dying with cancer, you are living with it"so in September 2019 he was accepted for London Marathon again and entered Bristol Half for the second time. 

Sadly by the summer of 2020 Dads tumours were growing back even quicker than before, he now had over 20 tumours and surgery was no longer an option. Sue Ryder commenced Dad's palliative care at home coming over at least twice a day to not only support him but the family too. 

On the 16th August 2020 Dads condition deteriorated and he was taken to the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice so he could be cared for properly around the clock. It the midst of a global pandemic we were unable to visit but the amazing staff were at the end of the phone so we could get updates as often as we liked. 

Sadly just two days later Dad passed away after and incredible 6 year battle leaving behind his wife Emma, 3 grown up sons James, Tim and Joe along with his 9 year old twins Freddy and Lily May. My gosh don't we all miss that incredible man! 

I started to run in May 2020 with the ambition of completing a run with Dad but he just wasn't well enough. I'm not going to lie, I hated it and couldn't understand why anyone would want to even think about running!! 

Anyway almost a year on, I've got the bug and I absolutely love running! Although I'm devastated I never had the pleasure of running with him every run I complete, even if it is just around the block I do it in his memory. 

It's my time to give something back and that starts here with raising money for the people that helped with Dads end of life care the amazing Sue Ryder 

I'm running the Cheltenham's Half Marathon to raise as much money as I can to give something back and thank Sue Ryder for their incredible support.

The care and support Sue Ryder provide is free but it costs Leckhampton Court £10,000 every single day to provide it.  Every pound I can raise will help and here are a few examples of how the money I raise can help:

• £5 could provide a memory box for a bereaved child
• £19 could pay for one hour of expert care, helping people live the best life they possibly can
• £60 could provide an hour of bereavement counselling for someone strugglling with the loss of a loved one
• £140 could pay for a hospice nurse for a day
• £500 could pay for a bed for a day of inpatient care for a hospice patient.

I've started my training already and I run three or four times a week slowly building up to 10 miles before the big day.  I'll update my progress along the way. 

Thank you for your donation, I promise it make a huge difference.

James