A fleet of Father Christmases have been whizzing around County Durham in memory of a farmer who died from a brain tumour.
Adam Forster died from a glioblastoma in May 2014 when he was just 42 years old.
Since then, his family has worked with the charity Brain Tumour Research, raising £32,000 to help find a cure for the disease.
Adam’s dad, Terry Forster, 72, from Consett, has led the Santa Bike Run around Consett, Delves Lane, Shotley Bridge and Lanchester for the past eight years.
The convoy was out again on Saturday, December 17, decked out with tinsel, Christmas cuddly toys and even a ‘sleigh’ carrying a life-size Christmas sheep.
Adam’s sister, Kerry Robson, 44, said: “The trauma we went through will never leave us, it’s just something we have to live with, but this is a bit of fun to raise much-needed money for a great cause.”
Adam, who farmed at Camperdown, Shotley Bridge, became unwell in May 2013 after slipping a disc in his back.
A month later, he had pins and needles in his arm.
An MRI scan at Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle revealed the tumour.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy proved unsuccessful, and Adam died at home 11 months later, on May 3, 2014, with his loving family beside him.
Kerry, who is show secretary for the Northumberland County Show, said: “What happened to Adam was devastating for us all. The disease and the treatment ravaged him, and it was awful to see.
“Adam went from being a big, handsome bloke to a bed ridden shadow of his former self. This disease is horrific and something that nobody should have to go through.
“Adam was a very private man in his illness, but he would be proud to think that by talking about what happened to him we are making a difference for other people and channelling our grief into something positive.”
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.
It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.
The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “We’re really grateful to Terry, Kerry all of the Santa Bike Run team 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 Adam who are forced to fight this awful disease.”
To donate to Kerry’s fundraising page click here
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