Newark Half-marathon : Dad inspired by his son to run 13-mile course

The father of a schoolboy who has a rare form of brain tumour is to run the Newark Half-marathon to raise money for vital research.

Mr Stephen Frost, of Newark, says he will be inspired to complete the 13.1 miles by the thought of his son William, 4, and the other children and families who are facing a similar battle against an evil disease.

William was diagnosed with an ependymoma three years ago after a brain scan found a tumour the size of a golf ball near the centre of his brain.

His parents were told halfway through 2016 that nothing more could be done for him but they could not bear to accept the news and looked into alternative treatments.

They started William on a low carbohydrate diet and cannabidiol.

After six months his tumour had shrunk by two-thirds.

He is slowly improving and able to attend Barnby Road Academy, Newark, part-time.

The family have been championing a fundraising campaign to raise £100,000 for research at Nottingham Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre to test cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, for its effects on paediatric brain cancer cells.

'I am just trying to do everything possible to save my son'

Mr Frost said he had originally wanted to raise money towards the campaign but thanks to some generous contributors, in particular the Astro Brain Tumour Fund and Brain Tumour Action, the full amount had now been raised.

The money he raises will go to the CBTRC, which will use it for research into other childhood brain tumour projects if not the CBT project.

Mr Frost said that since the initial reduction in William’s tumour each of the three scans so far had shown no change.

“We are continuing to live in limbo and are trying to enjoy as much time with William as possible,” said Mr Frost.

“It’s so difficult not knowing what the future will hold and the stress and anxiety are ever-present.

“I am just trying to do everything possible to save my son.”

Mr Frost is hoping that as well as donating people will visit https://makewilliamwell.com/ and like their Facebook page to raise awareness of what William and other children are going through, what the symptoms are and what they are doing to help fight ependymoma.