Dad embarks on epic charity challenge after young son beats cancer
9:42am Thursday 18th July 2013 in News By Chris Seal
Dad embarks on epic charity challenge after young son beats cancer
A BARRY dad is taking on a series of gruelling charity challenges to celebrate his young son?s successful battle against a rare form of cancer.
Three-year-old Daniel Downton was recently given his second ?all clear? a year after finishing treatment for a rare malignant tumour at the top of his spine.
He had to go through a punishing regime of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, scans and procedures during his treatment.
Friends and family had previously set up the 'Daniel Downton Cwtch Fund', a charity that helped pay for Daniel's treatment and also supported both LATCH and Clic Sargent.
He is now doing ?really well? and is looking forward to starting school at Cogan Primary School later this year.
After he was recently given his second ?all clear? delighted dad Matt Downton decided to embark on completing four epic challenges in aid of the cancer charity LATCH, in a bid to show their family?s appreciation for all the help and support they received during Daniel?s treatment.
Matt, 38, recently completed The Wall Ultra Run, a 69 mile ultra marathon over Hadrians Wall over two days last month, and is set to take on the Welsh Three Peaks on Saturday, July 20, this weekend.
He will then take on the ?Brutal? Snowdonia Half Ironman in September, which includes a 1.2 mile lake swim, a 56 mile bike section and a 14.7 mile run taking in the summit of Snowdon.
He will finish off the charity challenge by running the Cardiff Half Marathon in October.
Matt Downton, of Bron Awelon in Barry, said it was ?quite a milestone? for Daniel to be given the all clear just a year after finishing treatment.
?Everyone was over the moon and the consultants are delighted with him,? he said.
?You always expect another obstacle, but to get that confirmation was fantastic.
?It?s completely gone now. He had his last high dose chemotherapy in June last year and that lasted about six weeks.?
He added that Dan?s bravery in his battle against cancer had inspired him to take on the charity challenges.
?Dan has pushed so hard for his treatment and did so well to get through it,? he said.
?He went through so much that I thought doing a marathon wouldn?t be enough, it needed to be a challenge that would take me out of my comfort zone.?
He added that the first challenge, an ultra marathon nearly 70 miles long, had added significance.
?I always had 70 miles in my head as Dan went 70 miles in an ambulance to Bristol and back the first time for treatment,? he said.
Mum Claire has also fundraised for LATCH by taking part in the ?Hun Run?, an 11 mile run from her home in Barry to the Children?s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, a journey taken countless times by Dan during his intensive treatment at the hospital.
?My run was for me to try ?to feel the pain? that Dan was suffering with each journey into hospital last year,? said Claire.
?He was so poorly but he didn't have a choice.?
Claire, along with Karen O?Donoghue-Harris, Nicki Herbert, Melissa Downton, Ceri Western and Lauren Rowe who all took part in the relay style run, have now raised more than ?450 for LATCH.
To sponsor Matt with his charity challenge, please go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Swimrunbikehikefordan
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