A brain tumour patient undergoing chemotherapy and a bereaved father were among those who took on the Royal Parks Half Marathon yesterday in aid of Brain Tumour Research.
Chris Holliss, 34, from South London, pushed through the 13.1-mile course despite recently starting a year-long course of chemotherapy for a grade 4 astrocytoma, to raise funding for research into the disease.
The estate agent, who begins his second chemotherapy cycle today, said: "It went well for 18k but I pushed myself too hard for the finish and ended up pretty much passing out and in the medical tent for an hour! I did eventually walk the rest of the race with my wife – a bit wobbly – but after the initial frustration, I was super happy to have finished. Everyone else was happy with their times and we’re proud to have raised so much money."
Eight friends and family members joined Chris on his epic effort, including wife Claire, raising more than £16,500 so far to help find a cure for all types of brain tumours.
Just months after marrying Claire in August 2024, Chris received his incurable diagnosis after suffering a seizure. He took up running in February as a way to channel the grief and frustration of his diagnosis into “something positive”.
He added: “I’m not a runner but after learning how underfunded research into brain tumours is compared to other cancers, I knew I wanted to do something to change that. Finding Brain Tumour Research gave me hope, and this challenge is my way of giving back.”
Matt Crick, from Bury St Edmunds, was spurred on to race the Royal Parks Half Marathon in memory of his little boy, Harry, who died aged just two years old in October 2021.
Harry was diagnosed with an embryonal tumour with multi-layered rosettes (ETMR) at 22 months old after suffering a cold and becoming unsteady on his feet. He underwent gruelling surgeries and chemotherapy in an attempt to keep the cancer at bay. He also travelled with his family to Germany, where he received proton beam therapy, to try to give him more time with his loved ones, but tragically, the tumour took his young life.
Matt, who, along with his family and friends, has tirelessly raised thousands for research into brain tumours since Harry's diagnosis, said: "I finished in one hour and 56 minutes, so I was very happy with the time. Very nervous at the start but excited as well to be part of such a big run. By the 10-mile mark I felt like a hit a wall, but Harry kept pushing me though. I’m feeling very sore today but it was all worth it and I would love to do it again."
If you feel inspired by Chris and Matt, you can make a donation to help fund research and stop this disease devastating lives.
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