A man from Kent is running the TCS London Marathon to support his father, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour after returning from a summer holiday and suffering food poisoning.
John Bailey, 62, from Swanley, was diagnosed with a haemangioblastoma after collapsing at home in July 2023. Doctors told him he would die unless the tumour was removed, and he underwent a 12-hour life-saving surgery.
John's youngest son, Jack, from Dartford, is taking on the famous race in London on Sunday, April 26, to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research, which funds research for better treatments and outcomes for patients with incurable brain cancer.
A Shocking Diagnosis
Jack said: "Dad had been feeling unwell after returning from holiday in Lanzarote. One morning he collapsed and fell down the stairs. He broke his ribs and bashed his head a few times on the bannister. No-one was home when it happened, so Dad was actually out cold for about six to eight hours on the floor. My step-mum, Michelle, found him and called me straight away. It was very scary to see Dad in that state because he does everything himself. He just gets on things and doesn't complain so it was really upsetting."
After his fall, John was taken by ambulance to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, where an MRI scan revealed the tumour. He was then transferred to King's College Hospital in London.
Jack, 31, who works alongside his dad as a heritage joiner at the Houses of Parliament, said: "It was such a shock, we couldn't believe it. We were told that they needed to remove the tumour as soon as possible. Doctors said it was a 100 per cent death wish if it wasn't removed, but Dad was also told there was a very high chance he could die on the operating table because the procedure was so complex. They had to remove his skull and take apart his spinal cord which is incredible. He spent 12 hours in surgery, but they managed to remove 99 per cent of the tumour."
A Remarkable Recovery
After relearning how to walk and use his hands, John returned to work in April 2024. He now has annual checkup scans, which have all been stable. Jack, who is now training for the London Marathon, said: "This is so important for me to do because this disease doesn't discriminate, it affects people of all ages. Dad's brain tumour nearly killed him, so we feel very lucky to still have him with us. Others are not so lucky; it is vital that more research is done to find a cure."
Charity's Call for More Research
Carol Robertson, national events manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Jack's determination to take on the London Marathon is truly inspiring. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and stories like John's highlight why greater investment in research is so urgently needed. We are incredibly grateful to Jack for turning his experience into action and helping us raise vital funds and awareness as we work towards finding a cure."
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK and campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours. Brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer, yet historically just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002. The charity calls for a national annual spend of £35 million to improve survival rates and patient outcomes.
How to Support
To support Jack's fundraising campaign, visit his page online. For more information, visit www.braintumourresearch.org.
