This is my lifelong buddy Shay and I - years ago and today. He has always been an all-round legend – football, cricket, tennis, athletics - even fishing & crazy golf – you name it! Many of my happiest memories are of times spent together and I am beyond grateful for the wonderful friendship we have…I’m training for my first marathon, but Shay’s marathon achievement is on another level and a huge inspiration to me. He ran the London Marathon last October, raising a phenomenal amount of money, and after an unimaginable ordeal...

SHAYS STORY
In 2021 aged 24, Shay had graduated with a degree in Bio-Chemistry, set up his own business and was looking forward to moving out of home. However, his life changed in a split second after a knock to the head during a football game. He was rushed to hospital following a seizure and respiratory arrest, where scans showed a tumour on his brain, later diagnosed as an Astrocytoma Grade 2.

Shay’s diagnosis led to lengthy and difficult part-awake surgery, loss of speech and part paralysis, then painstaking rehabilitation - learning to walk and talk again, despite knowing his journey wasn’t complete. Because his tumour wasn’t aggressive, he didn’t have Chemo or Radiotherapy, but he does know that he will likely have to go through it all again, if and when it does recur or become more aggressive.

Determined to feel in control again, Shay was back in the gym within months and together with his brother Connor, he trained and ran the London Marathon just 16 months after his operation.

They raised a fantastic amount for Brain Tumour Research and I’m determined to add my bit too and additionally for partner charity Astro Brain Tumour Fund - a smaller, entirely volunteer-led charity that specifically funds research into Low Grade Astrocytomas - the type of tumour that Shay has.

Brain Tumours are indiscriminate – they can affect anyone at any age.
THEY KILL MORE CHILDREN & ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 40 THAN ANY OTHER CANCER
yet just 1% of the national cancer research spend is allocated to this devastating disease.

I am truly in awe of the courage, strength and positivity Shay has shown throughout his ordeal.
Please help me to smash my target and beyond . . . Thank you, Thank You, Drew