Hull mum taking on London Marathon to fight brain tumours
Amy Owen's son Roux was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just four weeks old.
Last updated 21st Apr 2024
A Hull mum whose son defied doctors to survive a brain tumour is taking on the London Marathon to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
Four-year-old Roux Owen was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour at just four weeks old, and has since undergone 14 different operations. At one stage mum Amy and her partner Antony were told to consider end of life care for Roux.
Amy said: "We were given two options which were to carry on the surgeries or take him home and make him comfortable and let him pass away. It was horrific but it was a no-brainer for us, we just knew that wasn't something we were going to do."
Amy's JustGiving page has reached just over £8,000 at time of writing, as she pushes for a brain tumour cure to prevent other families going through the same experience.
Amy said: "Brain tumours don't pick a person or an age, they can hit anybody at any time and with Roux being so young it shows you're never safe. We weren't brain tumour experts or parents of a child with a brain tumour but then you're suddenly thrown into it."
With the help of a personal trainer from Brain Tumour Research, Amy's training has gone well. She will be joined by two of her best friends Amy and Rob.
Amy said: "I'll be thinking of Roux, he's so happy, he loves life and he's really fought for his place on earth so if he can do what he's done I can run 26 miles!
"There's two little girls who passed away recently from brain tumours who we've got to know really well, and I'm running wearing bracelets with their names on, so knowing all that will be quite emotional."