A DAD is running the London Marathon to give back to the hospital which saved his son’s life.
Greg Sharland, from Steeple Bumpstead, is taking on the challenge in support of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) after his seven-year-old son Oscar was treated for medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
At just five years old, Oscar was diagnosed with a tumour at the base of his skull, which had already spread to his spine.
Greg said: "Without this hospital’s support, their reaction, their experts, we wouldn’t be where we are today, simple as.
"Addenbrooke’s has proved it goes above and beyond.
"Running the marathon for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is my opportunity to give back."
Oscar first began experiencing bouts of sickness in early 2023.
Although initially thought to be a stomach bug or abdominal migraine, his condition rapidly worsened.
An MRI revealed the cancer, and the family was immediately transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Oscar underwent emergency brain surgery the same night, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Greg said: "The operation was a success: they got 95 per cent of the tumour.
"But the left side of his body was affected, he had a tremor in his arm, lost the fine motor skills in his hand and he’s left-handed, he struggled to walk, and the sight in his left eye was pretty much gone.
"His arm and leg have recovered about 95 per cent: he retaught himself to write again, in fact he can write with both hands now."
Oscar was enrolled in a clinical trial and referred to University College London Hospitals for proton-beam therapy – twice daily for six weeks, which became seven because of a bout of pneumonia.
He required more than 100 general anaesthetics during treatment, and although chemotherapy was eventually halted due to side-effects, he has since been given the all-clear.
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In October 2024, the family was told Oscar was in remission and he rang the end-of-treatment bell.
Greg is one of 18 runners taking part in this year’s London Marathon in support of ACT, and has already doubled his fundraising target of £1,000.
To donate go to www.justgiving.com/page/greg-sharland-1.
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