Bristol entrepreneur raises thousands in London Marathon for brain tumour research

South West entrepreneur Anton Lane has ran the 2024 London Marathon to help raise money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of his friend Paul Emsley.

Anton, who founded and is managing director of Edge Tax, a Bristol-based UK and international tax experts, took on the challenge in memory of his best friend, Paul, who passed away in 2018.

“The best way to honour Paul’s memory is to do whatever we can to try to ensure fewer people are affected by brain tumours and if they have them, can survive them and they become treatable,” Anton said.

Paul gave up his successful banking career to become a fitness instructor to then raise his level of fitness to such a level that he could donate bone marrow to the Anthony Nolan Trust, a UK charity that supports awareness and research into serious blood conditions such as leukaemia.

He dedicated his life to helping people living with or affected by serious health condition as he went on to establish Energise, a fitness-based cancer rehabilitation programme in Bristol.

Anton first met Paul at his local gym when Paul became a personal trainer there and they soon became firm friends. Paul worked with Anton to help him with strength training.

When Anton first ran the London Marathon, it was to raise funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust. This time round, he supported Brain Tumour Research specifically for Paul and has to date raised over £4,000.

Anton said: “Whilst I have ran a few marathons, although not in the past five years, it always inspires me to see so many supportive runners uniting not only to achieve getting over the finish line but in their pursuit of benefitting good causes. You get to see the good side of humanity.

“This year’s marathon was tough, but I am proud of how it went. Training didn’t go completely to plan, work and life got in the way a little. However, the first 18 miles flew by, and I was really enjoying it. However, my legs started to seize, and the last few miles were tough. But the crowd and messages from friends got me through. Completing the marathon has reminded me how much I love running and I am planning some more races this year and have entered the ballot for next year.”

Brain Tumour Research exists to increase the level of research into brain tumours to improve outcomes, support people living with brain tumours, and ultimately find a cure. The charity is currently aiming to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK.

Brain tumours are responsible for the deaths of more children and adults under the age of 40 in the UK than any other cancer, killing more than 100 people every week, yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease since 2002.

Anton’s fundraising page for Brain Tumour Research can be found here: https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/anton-lane

More information about Brain Tumour Research can be found here: https://braintumourresearch.org/