An 18-year-old boy has completed the Reading Half Marathon to raise awareness of brain tumours, inspired by his friend who died from the devastating disease.

Ewan Evans, from Bracknell, who works for Cnet Construction, completed the run on Sunday 14 April, during Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research. 

A former student at Sandhurst School, Ewan said: "Ethan Treharne was in the year above me and after he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, I used to message him quite regularly on social media. It was such a shock when he died.

“I know of two other people from Sandhurst who also passed away from brain tumours, so when I heard that Ethan’s mum had set up A New Hope for Ethan, a Fundraising Group for Brain Tumour Research, I decided I wanted to take on a challenge to raise funds to help find a cure.”

Ewan added: “I had completed three 21km runs before I did the Reading Half so I knew I could do it. Everything went well on the day and I was pleased with my time of 1:44.

“I’m really grateful to everyone who has donated to my fundraising page and helped me exceed my target.”

Ethan was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour, which has an average survival prognosis of just 12 to 18 months, at the age of 15, whilst he was preparing for his GCSEs, after a headache which became ‘unbearable’.

Over the course of two years, Ethan underwent three operations and developed epilepsy as a result of his treatment for the tumour, which included gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sadly, the tumour was so aggressive that nothing stopped its progression and Ethan died at home on 26 November 2021, aged 17.

Nikki said: “We as a family are so touched and grateful to Ewan for taking up this challenge in Ethan’s memory. It means so much that Ethan is still remembered and continues to inspire others.

“Ewan has raised an incredible amount for A New Hope for Ethan and Brain Tumour Research and should be very proud.”