YOUNG Oliver Smith’s four-month fundraising journey - which has seen him run the equivalent of Barnsley to Newcastle and back in aid of a charity which supported his dad following a brain tumour diagnosis - will finally be completed tomorrow when he runs in the London ‘Mini’ Marathon.
The nine-year-old from Wombwell decided that he wanted to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity which supported his dad, Tom, when he was diagnosed last August.
Tom had the tumour - which measured around four centimetres - removed in an operation in December after doctors acted quickly before it spread.
Having just turned nine, Oliver decided he would run the equivalent of nine marathons with the fundraiser set to finish at the same time his mum, Hannah, completed the London Marathon.
And, with a little bit of help from Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock, Oliver managed to find a place at the starting line of the London Mini Marathon which is set to take place tomorrow.
Tom admits that it’ll make the finishing line just that little bit sweeter.
He told the Chronicle: “Oliver is doing the larger version of the mini marathon which is 2.6km.
“We’ve managed to save that distance for him so the end of the marathon will officially be the end of his challenge.
“We had to do a bit of to-ing and fro-ing to make sure he had his place and we were helped out by Stephanie Peacock which was lovely.
“He’s really excited for it.”
Before he started the fundraising mission, an original target of £2,000 was set.
But he has blown that out of the water and is on target to raise a huge £15,000 for the charity.
“He’s just shy of £15,000 so we’re hoping by the time he goes to run on Saturday he’ll have cracked that barrier,” Tom added.
“To raise that much money in such a short amount of time is absolutely unreal.
“We’re really pleased.
“He just loves running and he’s kept on going.
“Some people have offered to go running with him and they’ll say ‘how far do you want to go, 5km?’.
“And then he’ll say ‘let’s do six’ - he just wants to go that little bit further.”
When Hannah completes the full London Marathon on Sunday, Tom says they’re hoping to have quite the celebration.
He added: “It’s going to be a massive celebration.
“I don’t know how up for celebrating Hannah will be on Sunday but definitely on the Monday.
“But it’s going to be sad because it has been such a big part of our lives for the last four months.
“She’s going to be very relieved to have finished but I’m so proud of them both.
“I’m a very proud husband and a very proud father.
“It’s really humbling.
“I’m supposed to be the man of the house and I’m just sat here while everyone is out doing these wonderful things.
“But I can’t describe it.
“It’s lovely to watch them both flourishing and digging deep.
“Hannah’s grit and determination echoes Oliver’s - it’s just mega.”
And despite having ran 379km - the equivalent of travelling to Newcastle and back - Oliver’s showing no signs of slowing times just yet.
Tom added: “He’s not got any more challenges lined up but because he competes for Wakefield Triathlon Club he’ll keep on going.
“He’s not going to stop because he just loves it so much.
“It’s amazing what he’s done and we couldn’t be prouder.”
You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/my-marathon-challenge
