A Darlington man who died from a brain tumour has inspired his widow, Rebecca, and his best friend, Jamie, to run a half marathon in his memory.
Rebecca Wilkinson and Jamie Langburn will take on the Great North Run in Newcastle to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
Rebecca’s husband, Jonathan, 36, died from a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour in March 2022.
The couple shared four children; James, three, Alice, nine, Liam, 15, and Rhys, 18.
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Jonathan started having dizzy spells in December 2015.
He went to Darlington Memorial Hospital but was told he had had a panic attack.
At a follow-up appointment with his GP, Jonathan was diagnosed with anxiety, a diagnosis Rebecca doubted as he was “the most laid-back person in the world.”
On December 30, 2015, Jonathan suffered a grand mal seizure.
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The following day, Jonathan had a CT scan that revealed a mass on his brain.
In February 2016, Jonathan underwent an operation to remove the tumour, an astrocytoma, at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
The couple welcomed a fourth baby in October 2018.
In January 2019, a routine scan showed Jonathan’s tumour had grown, and he would need to have a second operation.
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In March, five days before the procedure was due to take place, Rebecca was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma.
She said: “Jonathan was so positive, and we didn’t want to know a timeframe, although research told me, at best, he had 15 months to live.”
In January 2020, Jonathan began a new course of chemotherapy, which resulted in the tumour shrinking.
In late November 2020, he returned to his job as a credit risk manager, working full-time from home, right up until last year.
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An MRI scan revealed the tumour had grown again. He was told that he would have his final operation in November.
On February 12, 2022, Rebecca and Jonathan celebrated their 14-year anniversary.
Rebecca said: “That was our last time out together because a few days after, Jonathan started to decline very quickly. He couldn’t walk and he was vomiting.”
Rebecca looked after Jonathan at home. Jonathan suffered extreme fatigue, severe headaches, vomiting, and lost the use of his legs.
On March 6, 2022, Jonathan died peacefully, with Rebecca by his side.
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Jonathan’s family and friends raised £2,500 at his funeral for Brain Tumour Research.
Now, Rebecca will take part in the Great North Run in Newcastle on September 11 to raise more money for vital research.
Jamie said: “When Jonathan was first diagnosed, I was in shock but I also felt great sadness for both him and his family. He was such a big strong strapping lad and it made me realise that none of us is invincible.
“It’s so important for me to do the Great North Run with Rebecca because the last time I did, it was with Jonathan and Rebecca, so this run has sentimental value to it too.”
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “We’re really grateful to Rebecca and Jamie for taking on this challenge, as it’s only with the support of people like them that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Jonathan who are forced to fight this awful disease.”
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