Former Harrogate student’s epic run in tribute to dad who died of brain tumour aged 48
A 20-year-old former Harrogate student who lost his father to a brain tumour has won the support of Brain Tumour Research patron Alfie Boe while running the entire length of Britain in memory of his dad.
Rafe Colman-Chadwick is undertaking the 874-mile challenge from John o’ Groats to Land’s End in honour of his father, Damian Colman, who grew up in Harrogate and died from a glioblastoma in 2018, aged just 48.
Currently a Politics and Social Policy student at the University of York, Rafe met award-winning singer Alife Boe in Manchester earlier this month after completing around 360 miles of his daunting challenge.
Rafe said: "Meeting Alfie was emotional for me because he truly understands what it's like to lose your dad to this cruel disease.
"Doing this run is part of my healing and grieving, turning it into positive action.
"Research into brain tumours simply doesn't receive the same level of investment as many other cancers and we want this to change.”
Rafe's father, Damian Colman died from a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour, in September 2018 at the age of 48.
Les Misérables star Alfie Boe was just 23 when he lost his own father, Alfred Boe, to an aggressive brain tumour and has since become a patron of the charity, campaigning for greater investment into research.
Rafe and Alfie are both supporting Brain Tumour Research's campaign for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer.
"Every mile I run is for families who have faced this disease and lost a loved one, and for those who will face it in the future. I hope we can help raise awareness as well as reach my £10,000 fundraising target for Brain Tumour Research," said Rafe.
Approximately, 3,200 people are diagnosed with a glioblastoma in the UK each year, yet just one in three patients survives for more than a year following diagnosis.
Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease.
Rafe began his challenge in early June and is running the equivalent of a marathon every day.
Despite battling fatigue and record-breaking temperatures, he is hoping to complete his epic journey later this week.
To donate to Rafe’s run, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/runuk