‘Marathon Dad’ Dies After Defying The Expectations By Completing 24 Races Despite Being Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer

• Ben Ashworth, who ran 24 marathons after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, has died.
• In this session, we will learn about his death, marathons, and cancer.

The Diagnosis of Terminal Bowel Cancer

Ben Ashworth found out he had terminal bowel cancer in the month of March 2012. He was given just six months to live, as per the predictions of the doctors.

Before the diagnosis, Ashworth ran a little and did the Great North Run in September 2011. He had planned to do his first marathon at Blackpool in March 2012, but then symptoms started presenting. So, he couldn’t train and be diagnosed in March 2012 instead.

Marathons

Ashworth then went on to choose to run after his diagnosis because it “helped discipline me” as told to the Telegraph in an interview last year. Ben said,

“My wife has been truly incredible, keeping the home and working and raising the girls and supporting me. When I’ve had my chemo the girls are ever so quiet and respectful. They come into the bedroom and give me medicinal hugs. As a parent, you want to protect your kids from stuff that makes them vulnerable, like the bogeyman, and you want to put their mind at ease. 

But when you’re the very thing that makes them vulnerable that’s a hard thing to cope with.”

Ashworth, who comes from Preston, Lancashire, then began taking part in charity runs three years ago. In between his chemotherapy treatment, Ben completed 24 marathons and four ultra-marathons as well.

Likewise, he also completed a cycling tour up the three peaks of Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike, and Snowden and a Tough Mudder assault course race.

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Death

Nicknamed ‘Marathon Dad’ he beat the odds to live years longer than doctors predicted. Ashworth died on Sunday, July 2, 2017. He now leaves his three young daughters to his wife. Ben’s wife Louise said the family was “heartbroken“.

She wrote on Facebook,

“We are heartbroken, but we are also in awe of the time we have been blessed with. How he has defied the odds. The way he won every race. We are grateful this wasn’t a marathon and he his last days were spent surrounded by those he loves and we were able to keep him at home.”

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She also added,

“I can assure everyone that myself and our beautiful girls are being well looked after.”