A graphic designer whose sister had to halt brain cancer treatment after getting pregnant last year has run the London Marathon in her honour.
Ryan Gouge was inspired to take on the challenge after his sister Paige - who used to live in Dunmow but now lives in Bishop's Stortford - was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in October 2021.
Glioblastoma is the same type of aggressive brain tumour that their father Mark died from in 2000, at the age of 37.
Paige underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and was privately funding immunotherapy treatment in Germany when she became pregnant last year - which doctors had said was unlikely to happen.
She and her fiancé Taylor Allen welcomed baby Alfred on April 1.
On Sunday, April 21, 34-year-old Ryan, who lives in Harold Wood, East London, completed the London Marathon in four hours and 28 minutes, raising money for Brain Tumour Research.
He had to defer his place in the marathon last year after concerns about a possible heart condition.
Ryan said: "The atmosphere was incredible. I ran the Paris Marathon in 2019 and London wasn’t anything like that. I hadn’t expected the home crowd to be so loud.
"The first half of my run went really well, and I did it in about two hours, but I think the moment got a bit much for me after that and my pace slowed.
"It was so important to me that I didn’t let anyone down that I felt the weight of the world on me, but, thankfully, I got through it.
"I had 35 supporters including family and ex colleagues, so that helped, and the other Brain Tumour Research runners were amazing. I felt pure relief at crossing the finish line."
Taylor had to stay at home because of a knee injury, but Paige and Alfred came to watch Ryan finish the run.
Ryan said: "Having her there was the most important thing for me.
"If she hadn’t been, I’m not sure it would have had the same impact, but the fact she was and she was so supportive was great.
"She even bought me a gift bag with a massage gun in it to give me after the race."
Paige is now crowdfunding to continue her immunotherapy treatment in Germany in a few weeks.
You can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/gtz5b3-paiges-2nd-chance-at-life.
Ryan added: "I wouldn’t have run a marathon and pushed myself through that pain without having a good reason and the charity gave me that.
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"Knowing what Paige is going through and how little research has progressed since we lost my dad makes me want to help.
"What I’ve done is a small drop in a large ocean but if everyone does their bit, then things have got to improve for people like Paige in the future."
Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumours UK, said: "We’re really grateful to Ryan for taking on this huge challenge for us and we wish Paige the best of luck with motherhood and her continued treatment."
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