A father from Wiltshire is training for the last races of a six marathon challenge in memory of his teenage son who died of brain cancer.

Frank Lee sr, 44, lost his 13-year-old son Frank James Lee in 2019. He was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) after doctors had told Frank to get his eyes checked after reporting persistent headaches and nausea, and a high-grade tumour was only discovered after he collapsed in his home in 2017. He died within two years, on July 22, 2019.

Frank Lee sr said: “As a family, we knew nothing about this disease until it completely upended our lives. So many young people die of brain tumours, yet so little funding goes into research into the disease. It makes my blood boil.

“I find it so hard to talk about Little Frank, and a couple of years ago I’m not sure I would have been able to do it. But I know I need to in order to prevent more parents from losing their sons like we did.”

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Frank is currently halfway through the Abbott World Marathon Majors challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. The challenge sees participants complete six different marathons across the globe.

He said: “Any time my mind starts going off and the sadness gets to me, I put on my trainers, and it clears my head,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed a run, but nowhere near to this degree. I’ve become a bit fanatical about it!”

So far, Frank Sr’s running, which he has undertaken alongside a group of friends known as "Team Breed", has already raised more than £27,000 for the charity. 

Frank and his running palsFrank and his running pals (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

Frank Sr, Royal Wootton Bassett, added: “I couldn’t have made it so far without all the Team Breed lads who have joined me in running around the world and remembering Little Frank, who was such an energetic and sporty kid when he was alive.”

Community development manager at Brain Tumour Research Louise Aubrey said: “We are so grateful to Frank for all the incredible fundraising he has done so far, and wish him luck on the final stages of this epic challenge!

“Sadly, there are so many more stories just like Frank and his son. So many young people are suffering from the disease, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.”

Frank has three more marathons incoming, starting with Berlin in September, followed by Chicago in October and New York in November.