Man who learned to walk again after incurable brain tumour diagnosis to run three marathons

A 28-year-old living with an incurable brain tumour is set to take on a number of gruelling fundraising challenges to raise money for two cancer charities.

Mason Morgan, from Cavendish Road, Balham, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in September 2022. He underwent emergency brain surgery just a few days after his diagnosis.

Now Mr Morgan is preparing to run three marathons in London, Chicago and New York, next year.

Mr Morgan: “I’ve always fundraised for charity, but in September last year I was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour. 

“Just the month before, I had been planning a move to Australia. And when I returned from a festival feeling a bit sick, I didn’t think anything of it. 

“But a few days later I blacked out for 30 seconds and when I later called 111, was told to go to hospital immediately. A week later I was having emergency brain surgery.

“After my surgery I was struggling to see, type, speak, eat, swallow, I still struggle to hold a pen because my right thumb doesn’t work very well. 

“You have to learn everything again – like a baby.”

Mr Morgan explained that as a dedicated runner and fitness enthusiast, this side effect hit him particularly hard.

He said:  “Emotionally it’s been a struggle. I was crying in hospital because I didn’t know what kind of surgery I was having or what the scar would look like, and it all happened so fast. 

“I was also grieving the loss of my friend and housemate who had died in October from cervical cancer. 

“I let everything build up, and it was just too much. 

“I felt hopeless. That’s when I got in touch with Macmillan for the first time to access their bereavement service.”But, having only re-started running in April Mr Morgan has already done several 10k races around the capital. 

And along with next year’s marathons, he also plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024.

So far Mr Morgan has raised over £4,700. His target is £15,000, which will be split between Macmillan and Guy’s Cancer Centre.

Mr Morgan said: “Being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour at the age of 27 feels very unfair…everyone being treated around me in the hospital is at least 30 years older.

“Sometimes I feel invisible because my cancer is invisible. 

“It’s a disease you can’t see; people on the tube don’t know I have a brain tumour and that I need to sit down, everyone’s always glued to their phones and not paying attention, so I don’t bother wearing my disabled badge anymore.

“There’s not a lot of data on my cancer as it’s really rare. I want to help increase the data so I have signed-up to take part in research tests and studies and do what I can. 

“It’s a bit of a bleak picture and there’s not a lot of hope for me. But I hope I can help people further down the line.

“Other people call me inspirational, but I don’t want cancer to define me. 

“I’m just trying my best. I don’t see myself as an inspiration. In my eyes, I’m just doing some running. 

“I don’t want to be known for having cancer, I want to be remembered for all the positive things I do.”

 To donate to Mason’s JustGiving page, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mason-challenge

Pictured top: Mason Morgan taking part in a 10km race in Richmond ahead of his marathon challenges next year (Picture: Macmillan Cancer Support)