SIXTY runners are taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon in October in memory of four-year-old Drew Barker-Wright who lost his battle with a rare cancer earlier this year.
Among them are Drew’s mum and dad, Mel Barker and John Wright from Talgarth, who have never run a half marathon before.
The pair felt inspired to take on the 13.1-mile challenge around the streets of Cardiff as one of the first events organised to raise money for the charity they have set up in their son’s memory, called The Drew Barker-Wright Charity.
Drew was diagnosed with a rare cancer, known as a chordoma, in November last year and was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Drew passed away on February 24 this year after spending his final moments watching his favourite films on the sofa at home with his parents.
Drew’s mother, Mel, said: “When you lose a child to cancer, it’s like being in an exclusive club and it changes you forever. I don’t think you can ever switch off those thoughts like it never happened.”
The people running, who have set themselves a target of £5,000, are raising money under the name #TeamDrew.
Mel and John are hoping their charity will raise awareness as well as funding for paediatric chordoma research as the only charity currently available is the Chordoma Foundation in America which is dedicated more to adults.
They are also hoping that it will support other families both in the UK and internationally who have been effected by paediatric chordoma.
Mel said: “We want there to be more help available. It has been a long process to establish the charity, but it is now approximately four weeks away from completion and having its own charity number.”
Anyone who wants to can make a donation in Drew’s memory on #TeamDrew’s Just Giving page.
For the full story see this weeks Brecon and Radnor Express.