Putney IT Worker Takes on Marathon During Cancer Recovery

Brad Owens supporting Barnardo's after they helped him adopt his two children

Brad on a run near the Grand Union Canal

A man who works with a Putney-based IT firm is planning to compete in this month’s London Marathon despite still undergoing treatment for Cancer.

Brad Owens, who is employed by Dolphin Dynamics on the Upper Richmond Road adopted two children through Barnardo’s and was determined to complete the Virgin Money London Marathon to raise funds for the charity, despite his condition..

Brad went through several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after developing stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma in February 2017, just two years after he and his husband Tim started a family by adopting their two boys, aged seven and eight.

It has been a steady road back to good health for the 36-year-old IT account manager who is still building up his stamina before the main event on Sunday, April 22.

This will be the second time Brad has run the marathon for Barnardo’s – he also completed it in 2015, just after he and Tim adopted the boys, as a way of giving back to the children’s charity for being so supportive.

Brad said, “It’s been a tough year and after coming through chemotherapy and radiotherapy I wanted to focus on something else, so I said if I felt better I’d run the marathon again.

“Barnardo’s has been fantastic. Through the whole adoption process, our social worker really went the extra mile, and they’ve been great ever since so I want to give something back.

“I can’t wait to do the London Marathon - finishing it is such a good feeling. My training has been quite slow but I’m getting there and starting to do longer runs. After everything I’ve been through I finally feel like I’m back to normal, and that makes me really happy.”

Brad will run the event with two close friends, Oliver and Steven, who are also raising funds to help Barnardo’s support the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people, including those who are just leaving care or have experienced child sexual exploitation.

Brad’s friend and fellow marathon runner Oliver Way said: “When I visited Brad throughout his treatment he has always kept his character and constantly been positive, and we know that his boys had a huge part to play in this. With everything going on, Barnardo's have been there not only to help with the children but to help with supporting Brad through his recovery.”

Lynn Gradwell, Director of Barnardo’s in London, said: “Brad has clearly been through so much this year, so it’s fantastic that on top of everything he has committed to running the marathon for Barnardo’s. The funds raised by Brad, Oliver and Steven will enable us to do even more to help vulnerable children and young people, and I want to thank them all for their support.”

To sponsor Brad please visit his Just Giving page.

Barnardo’s raise £250,000 through the marathon every year, helping us do more to support the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people, including those who are just leaving care or have experienced child sexual exploitation.

April 10, 2018