Bellingham man raises almost £8,000 in memory of neighbour with “gentle and kind soul”

A man has run the equivalent of 19 marathons in 31 days to raise money and awareness for brain cancer – after losing a childhood friend to the disease.

Kieron McCann, 28, from Bellingham, started his challenge on New Year’s Day by running one mile, and added an extra mile to his route each day until the end of January.

The semi-professional footballer was raising money and awareness in memory of his neighbour Darel Bryan, who died from a brain tumour aged 34 in February 2016.

Mr McCann, who also works for Network Rail as a track engineer, said: “He was a lovely guy, everyone liked him. No one had any bad words to say about Darel. 

“He had a brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme. It’s a horrible disease, and he fought it for 15 months. He was young, fit and healthy and sadly it was just one of those things that comes about and it was horrible just to see him go downhill how he did.”

Darel’s parents, Sara and Cliff Bryan, and his sister Claudine said they are blown away by the fundraiser.

Mrs Bryan said: “We are very proud of Kieron and the fact that he wants to push himself to do this wonderful challenge. It’s five years after Darel’s death and it shows what an impact he had on people. 

“Darel was a young man who would go above and beyond to help others. He always had a word of comfort to those who needed comforting and a word of wisdom for those who needed guidance. He was a gentle and kind soul who made an impression on anyone he met and touched everyone’s hearts.

“Hopefully one day there can be a bright outcome for those diagnosed with this terrible disease.”

Mr McCann has raised £7,743 for Brain Tumour Research and has run 436 miles in one month.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer and just 1% of the national spending on cancer is allocated to this disease.

He said his challenge has inspired other people to be active too, adding: “I’ve had some really nice messages from people saying it’s motivated them, saying that if I can do that, how can they not just get out and do a couple of miles, so that’s one of the good things that’s come from this run.”

Pictured top: Kieron McCann finishes his 31 day challenge