Mason Morgan, a 28-year old from London, will be taking part in this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon, presented by Royal Bank of Canada, after a devastating diagnosis revealed he was suffering with an aggressive, terminal form of brain cancer which could leave him with only years left to live.

Mason, who was in the process of emigrating to Australia, explains how he was suffering from ‘no symptoms whatsoever’, and only realised something might be wrong after having ‘no recollection’ of a conversation he’d had with a friend just 30 seconds earlier. 

Mason quickly paid a visit to King's College Hospital, London, but had no idea that it would be four weeks until he’d set foot outside the hospital again. Whilst there, Mason was diagnosed with an aggressive, fast-growing cancerous brain tumour, and would need to start treatment immediately.

Currently undergoing chemotherapy following a post-surgery bout of radiotherapy, Mason explains how he was left ‘crushed’ by the diagnosis, but ‘doesn’t want to let it consume him’. Instead, Mason has committed the rest of his life to completing a series of challenges designed to show people that a positive mindset can help you through even the darkest of times:

“I have three races coming up over the next month or so, including the Royal Parks Half Marathon, but I'm also doing a number of marathons next year, including London, Chicago, New York, and a few more. Most importantly, I’m finishing next year with my most difficult challenge yet - climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.”

“I don’t want to be remembered as somebody that didn’t try and live, regardless of my diagnosis. I will fight this, and it’ll be my biggest fight yet, but I want to give it my all and create something positive that I can be remembered by. I won’t be here long, but I’m going to make it count”.

Mason is now raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, the UK’s largest cancer charity providing specialist health care and financial support to people affected by cancer. The Macmillan team have supported Mason throughout his journey, and now he’s looking to return the favour by raising £15,000 for the charity by the time he’s completed the rest of his challenges:

“Macmillan have been on the other end of the phone whenever I’ve needed them, regardless of what time of day it is.”

“When I was first admitted to King’s College Hospital, I found out that a good friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer and was being treated in the same facility. We shared our journeys together, but she passed away just after I was discharged.”

“Macmillan have provided me with the counselling I need to get through this ordeal, both with my own diagnosis and the loss of my friend, and they’ve even provided financial support during the times at which I’ve been unable to work.”

“I’d be totally lost without them, so I’m going to raise as much money as I can for them in the time I have left.”

Reflecting on how his diagnosis has affected his life, Mason said:

“I try to be positive, but some days are better than others. My cancer is invisible - you can’t see it, so people often think everything is fine, when the reality is that it’s not.”

“For example, whilst I was riding the tube last week, a woman demanded I stand up so that she could sit down. I explained my situation and showed her both my badge and scar, but she continued to shout at me in front of the whole carriage because she thought I was lying.”

Reflecting on his goals for the future, Mason said: “My main goal now is to show people that your diagnosis doesn’t have to define you. I want to live a normal life where I don’t let what’s happened to me get in the way of where I want to be, or what I want to do.”

“Running allows me to clear my head and just focus on nothing but myself and the road in front of me. It lets me forget about my diagnosis, albeit for a short period of time, and for a brief moment the weight of the world is lifted from my shoulders. I want to continue to run, climb, and explore for as long as I possibly can.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone going through something similar, Mason said:

“Every day becomes easier when you choose to think positively and approach things with a smile. You’ll have more impact on the world that way, too.”

“Please don’t sit there thinking ‘why me?’, because you’re running out of time - everybody is! It’s happened, and there’s nothing you can do about it - that’s life.”

“If someone tells you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong. Do everything you can in the time that you have and you won’t have a single regret”.

To donate to Mason’s cause, please visit his fundraising page:

Donate to Mason