The loss of William Low (pictured above centre) at the age of 17 has inspired an incredible ultra-marathon from Leeds to Liverpool.
Will was diagnosed with a high-grade medulloblastoma at the age of five and underwent surgery, gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy. When his brain tumour was found to have returned, Will endured further surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, as well as a stem cell transplant. Sadly, aged 16, tumours developed on his spine. Will and his family were told that no further treatment was available and he died on 11th August 2017.
It led Will’s family (pictured below) to set up The William Low Trust, our Member Charity, which is sponsoring PhD researcher Thomas Willott at our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London. Tom is working with a team of researchers to develop new treatment strategies to inhibit the progression of aggressive medulloblastoma – the most common high-grade paediatric brain tumour.
Alex Warren (pictured top right and below), manager of Rudy’s Pizza restaurant in Leeds, ran 100 miles to raise funds for The William Low Trust after hearing about the charity from Louis George, one of his staff members, who was Will’s best friend. Alex also has a personal connection, as his girlfriend’s dad has been diagnosed with a brain tumour too.
Having never run an ultra-marathon before, Alex completed the epic 100-miler, but not without pulling a hamstring and injuring a knee.
William’s mum, Helen Forbes-Low, said: “It’s so important to Will’s dad, Craig, our daughter Harriet and me that Will is not forgotten and that we help others. We have been blown away that Alex took on this awesome challenge, having never met Will.
“We were there to wave Alex off and there to congratulate him at the end with a medal and a William Low Trust t-shirt. We can’t thank him enough. He’s already raised more than £1,000 and it’s not too late to add a donation.”
Click here to donate to Alex’s fundraising for the William Low Trust and help fund the research taking place at our Centres to find a cure.
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