A father from Pinner has taken on a 40-mile trek to raise funds for a cause close to his heart.
Marc Smart, 59, took on the gruelling challenge of the 40-mile Lyke Wake Walk across the North York Moors National Park, together with his friend Paul Brookes, on Thursday, July 4. The pair aimed to raise money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of Marc’s son, Joshua.
Josh was diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma in August 2017 after developing a tremor in his hand.
The teen, who aspired to become a human rights lawyer, underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He spent 18 months travelling to and from New York after he was accepted onto a clinical trial, but he was not able to continue accessing this after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He made the difficult decision shortly after to discontinue all treatment and passed away in February 2021, aged 18.
Since losing their youngest son, parents Marc and Michelle set up Team Joshua, a fundraising group for the national charity Brain Tumour Research. So far, they have raised more than £12,000.
On the fundraising page, they said: “What else can we do, but to raise awareness and funding for research into brain tumours in memory of our gorgeous Josh? We have set up Team Joshua under the umbrella of Brain Tumour Research.
“In Josh’s honour, we want to raise awareness and funding for research into diffuse midline glioma, and would love for friends and family to fundraise on behalf of Team Joshua, in his memory, in the hope that one day no other young person has to endure the pain and suffering that Josh experienced.”
To donate please visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/teamjoshuafundraisinggroup
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