This is Freddie, who I was lucky enough to to work with during my gap year. Like all the other children he loved football at break time and was always ready to have a go at anything. 

So it shocked me to learn that when he was 6 he had been diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, Ewing Sarcoma. It’s an aggressive cancer that creates tumours in the bone and soft tissue that can spread to anywhere in the body, very quickly.

Freddie has been through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, many blood platelet transfusions and various blood transfusions. But despite this continues to be one of the happiest and laid back people I’ve ever met. 

He has now finished treatment but there are some side effects. He now wears glasses due to his eye sight deteriorating and has been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, low thyroid levels, and low growth hormone levels. As I’m sure you’ll agree this is an unbelievable amount to go through before turning 10. 

Despite all this Freddie is always smiling and happy, carrying his favourite friend Mutty around with him and even surviving a dodgy two footed challenge from me one break time (I promise the ground was icy)! 

And because of him, I will be running the London Marathon 2024 in aid of Freddie’s Future. A special fund of the Bone Cancer Research Trust set up by his parents. Please do donate if you can to this amazing charity.

And if you want to keep up to date with my progress then please follow @edslondonmarathon for some sub-standard chat. 

Much love, Ed x