I’m Running the Great North Run 2026 for Brain Tumour Research – For My Son, Seth

Hi, I’m Chris Heighway, and in 2026 I’ll be taking on the Great North Run for Brain Tumour Research — something I never thought I would ever be able to say.

To be completely honest, I’ve never run a day in my life. Before my hip replacement in 2024, I could barely walk properly, never mind imagine running 13.1 miles. I’ve battled with my weight for as long as I can remember, and fitness always felt like something other people did — not me.

But everything changed when my son, Seth, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Since that day, our lives as the Murray‑Heighway family have been turned upside down. Seth has been through more than any child should ever have to face: chemotherapy, a tracheostomy, countless hospital stays, and ongoing medical interventions that continue to affect him every single day. His tumour is currently stable, and we are grateful for that — but it is still there, and the fear of it growing again is something we will always live with.

Because of where the tumour sits, Seth’s hypothalamus doesn’t send the full signal that tells the body it’s full. He lives with constant hunger — a daily battle that takes incredible strength and resilience. And yet, through everything, Seth has shown a bravery that leaves me in awe. He has faced every challenge with courage, humour, and a determination that inspires me more than he will ever know.

Watching him fight made me realise something: if he can face all of this, then I can face my own challenges too.

So I started a weight‑loss journey — not just for myself, but to stand beside him. I want to show him that weight can change, that hard work pays off, and that even when something feels impossible, you can still take the first step.

And now, I’m taking on the Great North Run to raise money for Brain Tumour Research — for the charity that fights for children like Seth every single day.

This run isn’t just a race for me.

It’s a message to my son:

“You’ve given me strength. Now I’m running to honour yours.”

And the part that means the most to me?

Seth is doing Couch to 5K to support me.

We’re doing this together — each pushing through our own challenges, each proving to the other that we are stronger than we think.

I’m running for research.

I’m running for hope.

I’m running for every family who has heard the words “brain tumour” and felt their world stop.

But most of all, I’m running for Seth.

If our story has touched you, I’d be incredibly grateful for your support. Every donation helps fund vital research and brings us closer to a future where no child has to go through what Seth has been through.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for helping me get to that finish line.

Chris