Student runs across UK for brain tumour research

A student has run the length of the UK for a brain tumour charity after losing his father to one when he was a child.

Rafe Colman-Chadwick, 20, raised more than £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research by running 872 miles (1,403km) from John O'Groats to Land's End.

Despite a knee injury early on and suffering with tonsilitis, he reached Land's End in six weeks, ahead of his eight-week target.

He said: "If my challenge helps even one more family by raising awareness, funding more research and encouraging people to demand change, then every mile has been worth it."

The University of York student set out running on 5 June to honour the memory of his father, Damian Colman, who died from glioblastoma in 2018. His son was 12 years old at the time.

"When I was a little kid, all the way through Dad's diagnosis, even for a few years after he died, I didn't talk about it once," he said.

"I think it's hard to talk about grief, but I think it's harder not to talk about it and I think that until you realise that, that's when you start going through the process of healing."

According to Brain Tumour Research, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, with only 1% of the national spend on cancer research allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.

The charity is campaigning to increase the national investment in research into brain tumours to £35m per year.

Finishing at midday on Saturday 18 July, Colman-Chadwick said he "picked up the pace going past the Lancashire area".

Recalling the challenge, he said: "There were some days where I was in the Highlands where it was bashing down with rain, and it was windy and I was genuinely fearing for my own wellbeing.

"There were days when my body was telling me to stop, but I kept thinking about why I started. Giving up was never an option for me."

Actor and singer Alfie Boe, patron of Brain Tumour Research, also lost his father to a brain tumour.

"He's an incredibly inspirational young man whose determination and courage are remarkable," said Boe.

"Losing his father to a brain tumour at just 12 years old is something no child should have to experience, yet he's turned that heartbreak into a challenge that will make a real difference for others." he added.

With his fundraising run finally over, the student is looking to the future.

"I'm currently planning the National Three Peaks, which is obviously a lot smaller, but I'm going to try and organise to do that in 24 hours. So if I do that, I'll be the youngest person to ever run the UK and do the National Three Peaks."

And he has had to think beyond university life.

"I've got to Land's End. Now I've got to get a job!"

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.