Jordan’s double family reason for fund-raising marathon run

A PE teacher is preparing to run his first full marathon in memory of his uncle, who he had hoped to run it with, and for his aunt who is living with an inoperable brain tumour.

Jordan Chilton, from Clapham Road, Stockwell, will be running the Edinburgh Marathon on May 26 in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research.

The Langdon Park School teacher had planned to run the 26.2-mile race with his uncle, Nigel Strachan, who died of kidney cancer last July.

Jordan, 26, said: “Nigel got on a bit of a health kick and started running in 2021, about the same time that I also started running. I asked what his long-term goals were and he said to run a half-marathon and then, hopefully, a full one.

“We talked of doing it together for charity and, as my aunt has a brain tumour, Brain Tumour Research was the obvious choice.

“With Nigel passing last year, and him having inspired me so much, it seemed fitting to run this in his memory, and for my aunt who’s on her own now. I hope that one day research will be able to give her the answers she wants.”

Jordan added: “I ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon last April and remember thinking ‘I can’t believe I’ve got to double that for a full one’, but it has always been an ambition of mine.

 “I think it’ll be an emotional day because of my reasons for doing it.”

 Jordan’s aunt, Sarah Strachan, 44, was diagnosed with a low-grade, inoperable meningioma in February 2018.

She had struggled with her symptoms for years beforehand and had, at times, felt suicidal because she did not know what was wrong.

 

The mum-of-two, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, is unable to work and is often bedbound because she suffers from bouts of temporary paralysis. She also suffers from seizures and is having frequent scans while her medication is being reassessed.

She said: “From 2010-2018 I was suffering with nausea, dizziness and headaches and I made countless trips to the doctor. I gave up work in 2015 because I just couldn’t cope anymore. My headaches were relentless. By January 2018, I had become so forgetful that I got lost driving familiar routes and forgot to pick my kids up.

“Before all this, I’d be out all the time, climbing mountains, exploring caves and walking through woods with the kids or on camping holidays and trips abroad. Now I can’t do much at all. I’m often bedbound and can’t do what I want to, although I still try to push myself.”

Jordan said: “Sarah and I have always been close. Her oldest son is only three years younger than me, so we grew up together.

“She was always the strong one. What she said went, and it took me years to understand this is how she is now because I didn’t realise the affect her tumour was having on her physically. It’s been quite a rollercoaster for her.”

Jordan is hoping to raise at least £2,740, which is enough to sponsor a day of research at any of the charity’s four Centres of Excellence.

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Sarah’s sad story is a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of brain tumours, which can affect anyone at any time.

“We’re really grateful to Jordan for taking on this challenge for us and wish him the best of luck on race day.”

To support Jordan’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com/page/jordan-chilton-1705254524672.

Pictured top: Jordan Chilton with his aunt, Sarah Strachan (Picture: Jordan Chilton)