Rafe Running for his Dad

The London Marathon on Sunday is extra special for us as Clair (MD of Cause UK) watches her son, Rafe run in memory of his dad.

Please do donate to Brain Tumour Research if you can: Rafael Colman-Chadwick is fundraising for Brain Tumour Research (justgiving.com)

Watch Rafe’s film here, which says everything about why he’s running.

Read more on the story…

Rafe Colman-Chadwick, 18, is raising funds for Brain Tumour Research, after his father Damian died from brain cancer aged 49, five years ago.  He will be one of the youngest runners doing the marathon this year on April 21^st.

Rafe, who is at sixth form at Harrogate Grammar, said: “To lose dad at 12 has had its challenges. Describing the emotions is hard to put into words, so instead I will put these emotions into action. I am running the London marathon for Brain Tumour Research and I need your help. Any donations and support to help combat cancer is hugely appreciated. When I was 10, my father got one of the rarest forms of brain cancer, stage 4 Glioblastoma.

“He was told by doctors that he had 6 months to live, yet he cracked on with life with a smile on his face, because he knew the most important thing he could do, was to be there for me as my dad, despite the circumstances we were in. He lived for 2 years, far longer than what the doctors anticipated.

“To leave this world at 49, and to leave your son at 12, is something no parent should have to face. Without dad, I have had to learn how to shave (with the help of my friends) and learn how to fit back into the environment of everyday life. It has certainly had its challenges. There still isn’t a day I don’t think about his death. Yet, no challenge is harder than knowing you will be not be able to watch your child grow old. And this is something I have come to realise with time.”

The actor Miriam Margolyes showed her support and filmed a short piece on her iPhone with Rafe when she was in Harrogate on her latest book tour, promoting, Oh Miriam!

Moving the camera to show Rafe, Miriam said: “Rafe is doing a marathon for Brain Tumour Research. His dad died because he had a brain tumour. We need to do research into that area of cancer. Please support Rafe, he’s running and he’s doing it for his dad. Please open your purses and your hearts. Thank you.”

Rafe said: “I am incredibly thankful everyone who has supported me by donating to Brain Tumour Research. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this disease. I’m doing this in memory of my dad with the hope of making a positive impact on the lives of other patients and their families.”

Brain tumours remain one of the least funded areas of cancer research, with limited resources allocated to understanding this complex and devastating disease. According to recent statistics, brain tumour research receives only a fraction of the funding compared to other forms of cancer research.

The funds Rafe will raise will contribute towards groundbreaking research projects, clinical trials, and the development of innovative treatments, ultimately improving the prognosis and quality of life for patients affected by brain cancer.

Rafe is a passionate advocate for the charity.

To donate to Rafe’s 2024 London Marathon go to bit.ly/455Nd3y

EDITORS NOTES

Photo shows: Rafe Colman-Chadwick with his mum Clair Challenor-Chadwick and Miriam Margolyes.  Photo credit Gerard Binks.

To watch the video go to https://youtube.com/shorts/dWJDWjcY9a0?feature=share or download video and photo here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/eco1d1vbxlwrcezf90s36/h?rlkey=fpqibo4trg4a5wa9lqfnyg3ls&dl=0

For media enquiries and further information, please contact: clair@causeuk.com 0753 194 8014.