1 week Ago By [email protected] (Gary Porter)
A 19-year-old Staffordshire student is running the London Marathon today (April 27) in memory of his mum who died from a cancerous brain tumour. Aidan Giddins, who had no prior running experience, will take on the iconic 26.2-mile course to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
His mum, Joanne Cross, sadly died last year from an aggressive and cancerous brain tumour at the age of just 46. Aidan said: "I'll never forget the time in the hospice when mum was non-responsive, but she still gripped my hand, as if she knew I was there and wanted to comfort me. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through that, and only a cure for brain tumours can stop this from happening.
"When mum was diagnosed, it was a huge shock to all of us. She was always so active and full of life, so to see her deteriorate so rapidly was heartbreaking. She struggled with basic tasks like getting dressed, and it felt like it all happened in the blink of an eye.
"I’ll never forget how difficult it was to watch her go from being so independent to a completely different person, needing 24-hour care. You always see these things happening to other people but never think it could happen to someone you care about. Running the marathon is my way of honouring her strength and fighting spirit, and raising awareness of this disease that took her too soon.
" Joanne, a former nursery nurse, was a devoted wife and mother who began experiencing severe headaches and short-term memory loss in September 2022. After undergoing MRI scans at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, she found a small mass in her head which later turned out to be a glioblastoma, an aggressive and cancerous brain tumour. Despite multiple surgeries, and receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Joanne died in February last year - 18 months after her diagnosis.
She is survived by Aidan, her husband, Damon, and stepson, Dylan, who were all with her during her final days. Despite having no prior running experience, Aidan has fully committed himself to training in preparation of the iconic run. Balancing his studies and a job as a retail assistant with a demanding training schedule, he is gradually increasing his mileage and focusing on building both physical endurance and mental resilience.
"Training for the London Marathon has been one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced, but also one of the most rewarding,” adds Aidan. "I’ve always enjoyed working out but I wasn’t interested in running until my friend, Carl, who runs a lot, convinced me to take it up and is helping me with my training. "I’ve managed to get a solid routine in place, running at night because it allows me to study and work during the day.
There are times when it’s really hard, but thinking of mum, and support from my friends and family, keeps me going and pushes me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. If anyone is going through a similar experience and wants to do a challenge like this, having a strong supportive group around you is really important." Joanne’s brain tumour, a glioblastoma, is the most common type of primary malignant brain tumour in adults with a devastating survival time of just 12-18 months.
Although brain tumours are one of the biggest cancer killers, only one per cent of national cancer research funding has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002. Aidan said: “It’s shocking to learn how little funding goes into researching brain tumours, especially considering how devastating this disease is and how many families it affects. My mum deserved better and so do all the other people facing this diagnosis.
A lot more needs to be done, which is why I’m helping with this fundraising challenge." Carol Robertson, national events manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Aidan for taking on such a huge challenge in memory of his mum. His dedication to raising awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research is truly inspiring.
Every step he takes brings us closer to finding better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for brain tumours. We’ll be there to cheer Aidan across the finish line in April." To support Aidan's London Marathon fundraiser visit justgiving.
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