Sporting stars have been sharing messages of encouragement for a 12-year-old boy taking on a lockdown running challenge to raise funds to help find a cure for brain tumours.
William Priddy is running a mile a day after his dad Greg’s shock diagnosis on Christmas Eve. Running laps of his garden to complete his daily distance, he has already raised more than £3,500 for Brain Tumour Research.
Greg was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he went for a routine MRI scan in November 2020. A biopsy revealed that the tumour is a primary brain CNS lymphoma (PCNSL), which due to its location cannot be removed by surgery. His chemotherapy, which was delayed by COVID-19, started this week.
Encouraged to “do something positive” by a teacher, William completed his first run on 5th January. He set out to run 1km a day, but has since upped the distance to one mile which he will complete every day until 31st March.
Stars from the world of sport have been congratulating rugby fan William on his amazing fundraising, with England Rugby and Harlequins player Danny Care, former rugby union player Will Carling, six-times Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy and double Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson amongst the sporting legends sharing messages of support on Twitter.
His mum Jo said: “William is so grateful to everyone who has donated to his fundraising page, many anonymously which has meant he hasn’t been able to thank them individually. Raising money for a worthwhile cause has really given William a focus.”
If you would like to support William, you can donate via his JustGiving page.
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