The Brain Tumour Charity

Andrew Owens

Andy Owens

Andy Owens

My Story

I'm a farmer from Herefordshire, who has always held the lifelong ambition of running a marathon. Until April this year, it was always something I thought I would do eventually, but work on the farm and 'life' always seemed to get in the way.

On April 1st this year, we lost my father-in-law 'Steve' to a brain tumour at the age of 67. He was a brilliant man, but more importantly a brilliant father to my wife Sophie and her two sisters. I know it is not a unique circumstance but his passing has left a huge hole in all our lives.

For me personally, he was a mentor. He too was a farmer and a very successful one at that. He started with nothing and built a very successful business through sheer grit, hard work and a forward thinking attitude.

I farm on my own, farming my late Grandfathers farm, as neither my parents had careers in agriculture. So Steve was a constant source of advice and reassurance that despite the hardest, darkest days on the farm where nothing seems to go right, "...tomorrow is a new day and the sun will shine again."

Steve had an amazing mind, was adept at mental arithmetic and a quick mischievous wit which most people could only dream of. It seems a cruel irony that it was a brain tumour that took his life.

He was diagnosed at the end of January 2022 and had passed away by the beginning of April. We were all shocked and bereft on how such a giant in our lives could be taken so quickly by such an aggressive illness. There was no time to say real goodbyes and so many things were left unsaid. For me personally, I never had the chance to thank him for the advice he gave me over the years and for the help and support he gave my Wife and I.

I think I was in denial and truly believed his mantra that things would always get better eventually.

So I'm running the London Marathon in memory of Steve. As the thank-you I never got to say in person.

All the money I raise is going to The Brain Tumour Charity. Their research and care makes a difference every day for people and families affected by this terrible illness. They're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change.

A huge thank you in advance and I'll see you on the finish line.

AO x

The Brain Tumour Charity

Raising for:

The Brain Tumour Charity
102%

Funded

  • Target
    £10K
  • Raised so far
    £10.2K
  • Number of donors
    218

My Story

I'm a farmer from Herefordshire, who has always held the lifelong ambition of running a marathon. Until April this year, it was always something I thought I would do eventually, but work on the farm and 'life' always seemed to get in the way.

On April 1st this year, we lost my father-in-law 'Steve' to a brain tumour at the age of 67. He was a brilliant man, but more importantly a brilliant father to my wife Sophie and her two sisters. I know it is not a unique circumstance but his passing has left a huge hole in all our lives.

For me personally, he was a mentor. He too was a farmer and a very successful one at that. He started with nothing and built a very successful business through sheer grit, hard work and a forward thinking attitude.

I farm on my own, farming my late Grandfathers farm, as neither my parents had careers in agriculture. So Steve was a constant source of advice and reassurance that despite the hardest, darkest days on the farm where nothing seems to go right, "...tomorrow is a new day and the sun will shine again."

Steve had an amazing mind, was adept at mental arithmetic and a quick mischievous wit which most people could only dream of. It seems a cruel irony that it was a brain tumour that took his life.

He was diagnosed at the end of January 2022 and had passed away by the beginning of April. We were all shocked and bereft on how such a giant in our lives could be taken so quickly by such an aggressive illness. There was no time to say real goodbyes and so many things were left unsaid. For me personally, I never had the chance to thank him for the advice he gave me over the years and for the help and support he gave my Wife and I.

I think I was in denial and truly believed his mantra that things would always get better eventually.

So I'm running the London Marathon in memory of Steve. As the thank-you I never got to say in person.

All the money I raise is going to The Brain Tumour Charity. Their research and care makes a difference every day for people and families affected by this terrible illness. They're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change.

A huge thank you in advance and I'll see you on the finish line.

AO x