A Whitley Bay man has been inspired to tackle his first ever marathon to raise funds in memory of a headteacher who died suddenly from a brain tumour.
Father of three Lee Patterson, who was head of Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College in North Shields, died in November 2020 – just seven weeks after being diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a fast-growing type of tumour of the brain or spinal cord.
Thousands has since been raised in the 51-year-old’s memory to help find a cure for the devastating disease.
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Now Graeme Sands is preparing to take on the Brighton Marathon on April 10 to raise vital funds for the Brain Tumour Research charity.
The NHS administrator never met Lee. But when Graeme heard Lee’s widow, Kathy, was trying to galvanise the community to get behind her and support Brain Tumour Research in her husband’s memory, he was keen to help.
Lee was a fellow member of the Waves gym Graeme attends in Whitley Bay and he said: “Last year Kathy put up some posters in the gym advertising the charity’s Jog 26 Miles in May Challenge.
“My wife Nicola and I signed up to take part. Having read Lee’s story on the Brain Tumour Research website and found out about the dreadful statistics surrounding brain tumours, we were motivated to get behind the cause and support Kathy.”
It was having successfully completed the virtual Jog 26 challenge that Graeme decided to take his running and fundraising to the next level and sign-up for his first ever marathon – although he’s under no illusions about the ambitious task he has set himself.
He said: “I’m under no illusion that a marathon will be a huge challenge, but focusing on my reason for doing it will be a great motivation.
“I used to run a lot when I was younger and then life got in the way and I stopped running for quite a few years.
“In recent years, I’ve got back into fitness and going to the gym, which is where my love for running began. During lockdown I started running outdoors, which I really enjoy, especially with the beautiful coastal runs on our doorstep.”
Lee was initially misdiagnosed with vertigo and prescribed sea sickness tablets after experiencing severe nausea and headaches.
It was in September 2020 that Lee and his family were given the devastating diagnosis after he suffered a bleed on the brain and underwent emergency surgery at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Kathy, a higher-level teaching assistant at Whitley Lodge First School in Whitley Bay, recalled: “The consultant sat us down and explained that Lee had a large, aggressive GBM brain tumour, the size of a fist. He said it was too late to operate and that there were no other treatment options available. They weren’t expecting him to survive the weekend.
“We couldn’t believe it. Lee was a very fit 51-year-old man. He ate healthily, didn’t smoke and only drank socially. He wasn’t overweight; he ran, cycled and went to the gym. He was always out walking and looked after himself. It seemed so unjust and so cruel.”
Lee was initially told he wouldn’t survive more than 48 hours, but fought hard.
He spent his final few weeks in hospital and died on November 10, surrounded by his loved ones - Kathy and their three sons, Will, 24, Tom, 23, and Michael, 21.
Since Lee’s untimely death, Kathy and her family have organised a number of fundraising activities for Brain Tumour Research, collecting almost £20,000 for the charity.
Kathy said: “Lee leaves behind a fantastic legacy and I’m proud to be helping that to continue by fundraising in his name.
“The fact that Graeme is taking on a marathon in Lee’s memory, having never even met him, is really humbling and I’m so grateful to him for supporting this cause.
“Lee’s story has moved so many people; it’s wonderful to see that translate into fundraising to help find a cure for brain tumours.”
March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month.
Matthew Price, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Lee’s story is devastating and reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can happen to anyone at any time.
“We are very grateful to Graeme for taking on the Brighton Marathon and wish him all the best for the event.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here: justgiving.com/fundraising/grum13
