Norfolk man running first marathon, to raise money for cancer research
Owen Mullen is also doing it in memory of two family members who he's lost to the disease
A man in Norfolk is gearing up to run the Edinburgh marathon, this Sunday, in memory of loved ones he's lost to cancer.
Owen Mullen is also looking to raise money for a global charity, Worldwide Cancer Research, tackling the disease, while running his first ever marathon.
He also a PhD student researching cancer at the University of East Anglia and is aiming to raise over £1,000.
"It would be so sad to watch her deteriorate"
He told us more about cancer has affected him and his family:
"My Grandma on my Dad's side died of Cancer, when I was 13 years old.
"We used to live quite close to their house and she would sit in this armchair by the window and it would be so sad to watch her deteriorate.
"My Grandad did so well looking after her during this time.
"My uncle Malcom died of a brain tumour a couple of years ago. He went through chemotherapy and recovered from it.
"But then the tumour came back and he had a seizure when driving. It meant that he was bed-ridden and house-bound until the end of this life".
"Supporters like Owen are the heartbeat of our charity"
Helen Zollinger, Partnerships is from Worldwide Cancer Research,
said: “Supporters like Owen are the heartbeat of our charity. His determination to honour the memory of his loved ones, while also helping fund crucial research, is incredibly inspiring.
“Every pound raised goes directly towards early-stage scientific research that has the potential to lead to life-saving breakthroughs. We’re so proud to have Owen as part of our Curestarter community.”
The charity says it's invested more than £200 million into cancer research across more than 30 countries.
The group focuses on funding the first steps towards new treatments, which helps scientists pursue new ways of creating cures for cancer.