A PRIMARY school headteacher has raised more than £3,750 for the charity that is helping his young son through cancer, just a year after losing his wife to the same disease.
Kings Caple Primary head Jamie Gittins completed the Cardiff Half Marathon dressed as a lion called Olly the Brave, the mascot of Molly Ollys Wishes, which supports ill children and their families.
And eight-year-old son Freddie, who is being helped by the charity, was there with older brother Noah to cheer on their brave dad, who admitted he had “never been so hot in all my life” wearing the lion’s suit over more than 13 miles.
But the 40-year-old said there was never any doubt about finishing the half-marathon, as Molly Ollys has done so much to help them, including arranging for them to go to a WWE live wrestling show which was Freddie’s dream.
The family lost wife and mum Emma to breast cancer a year ago, only for Freddie to develop leukaemia last summer, which he is currently being treated for.
Jamie posted a photo of him in his lion’s suit with his sons, saying: “All smiles at the start… not so much at the end! The heat was unbearable in the outfit but I got round in 2hrs 45mins!”
It has been a doubly tough challenge preparing for the run, with Jamie taking Freddie to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for regular treatment.
He said: “Telling the boys Em had died was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“It absolutely broke their hearts. All the family were there because I said I didn’t think I could do it on my own.
“Then having to tell Freddie that he also had cancer was another heart-breaking moment in my life that haunts me to this day.
“The oncologist told me that if you’re going to get leukaemia, the type Fred’s got, is the best one to get. The success rate is over 90 per cent for his age. It has been rough for many months, but he will be OK.”
To support Jamie’s fundraising challenge go to justgiving.com and search for ‘Jamie G Cardiff Half Marathon’.
For more information, go to the family’s personal Facebook blog ‘Fight Said Fred’.