Ewan Rees, a Swansea man and Army reservist, has transformed his life after the death of his grandfather from a brain tumour. Six years ago, he was overweight and grieving; now he is a boxer undertaking an extraordinary endurance challenge around the Welsh coastline and border.
Inspired by Loss
Rees's grandfather, Wyford Bater – affectionately known as 'Bampa' – was diagnosed with a brain tumour. 'He was a very smart man, and it was heartbreaking to watch him deteriorate,' Rees said. Every day in the UK, 34 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour, yet survival rates have barely improved in 40 years compared with other cancers.
After his grandfather's death, Rees channelled his grief into physical activity. 'I discovered sport, and boxing, after his death. I was actually quite overweight when he was around. I think he'd be very proud of me for doing this, although he'd probably also tell me I was mad,' he said.
The Challenge
Rees set off from Swansea on June 3 on an ambitious mission to run the entire Welsh coastline and English border before returning home. Covering approximately 15 miles every day, the challenge features more than 100,000ft of elevation gain – the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest three times. The mammoth challenge is expected to take around two months to complete.
Despite encountering setbacks almost immediately, Rees has refused to let injuries derail his efforts. Heavy rain on the first day caused significant problems with his feet, creating painful issues that took weeks to heal. 'One thing I didn't plan for, which was so silly of me, was the horrendous rain on day one. This led to a list of problems with my feet that have only now started healing two weeks in,' he said. 'Now I'm hoping to press on further than scheduled to try to finish the run early.'
Having covered close to 250 miles, Rees says his body is slowly adapting. 'My feet and toes have begun to callus, my shoulders are slowly growing and getting used to the weight. My legs are recovering faster, however my knees struggle on the downhills.'
Fundraising and Support
Every step is dedicated to his grandfather and raising awareness of brain tumours. 'Every mile I run is for him, and every donation will go towards supporting The Brain Tumour Charity and the vital work they do in research, support, and awareness,' Rees said. The fundraising effort has already exceeded expectations, tripling his original £1,000 target. His fundraising page is still open to donations.
Rees said the level of response from family, friends, and members of the public has been overwhelming. 'A huge thank you to everyone who has donated. The support from the public has been amazing. Keeping me going is my faith and trust in God, which is helping me find a strength I never knew I had. I'm so grateful for the support of my family and girlfriend who come to see me on my rest days, bringing me supplies and refreshing my morale. And then there's the support and messages I keep getting from friends and even strangers.'
He added: 'The standout moments for me so far have been meeting people who have been affected by brain tumours and seeing how much joy it brings them seeing someone raising money for the charity.'
