Chester student Ieuan to run the London Marathon in memory of his best friend

Manchester City fan Jordan Giddins would have been delighted with rivals Manchester United’s defeat to West Brom which handed Pep Guardiola’s side the title with five games of the season to go.

But 18-year-old Jordan never got to see his heroes lift the Premier League trophy this time around, after he lost his brave battle with cancer in April last year.

The Flint teenager was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) at just 11-years-old and suffered with Ewings Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, meaning in his last 12 months he spent 150 nights in hospital, received 48 blood transfusions, 10 hours of surgery and spent 10 weeks in America in a bid to fight the disease.

“He would definitely have still been celebrating now,” laughs Jordan’s friend Ieuan Rowe, a student at Chester University.

“He’d have been very happy but that was Jordan - he always kept positive no matter what the circumstances were and what he was going through.

“He worried about his friends and if they were happy or not and always kept his head up.

“He was a role model to be honest. I miss him a lot - it’s tough to lose your best mate at any age but when you’re a teenager it’s extra hard - he was my best friend and he still is really.”

Ieuan Rowe, a student at Chester University, raising money in memory of Jordan 'Giddo'.

Such is Ieuan’s dedication to his pal’s memory that he is running this weekend’s London Marathon in memory of ‘Giddo’ and raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust which supported him through his illness.

“Two days before Jordan passed away last year I decided I was going to run the marathon,” says Ieuan, 19, of Bagillt.

“I wanted to run for Teenage Cancer Trust because I knew they looked after the ward that he was on but I didn’t finish the application form in time and after I got the devastating news about Jordan it spurred me on to do it this year.”

Ieuan, who is studying sports coaching and development in the city, began training for the 26.2-mile event straight away but it has not been without its problems.

“I play and coach football but I’m not the fittest person,” he laughs. “Luckily there’s a bit there already to work on and the training started really well.

“I spoke to a few people who’d run it before and they helped me make a training plan and I got into the routine quite well.

“Then I got an ankle injury when I was coaching football and I couldn’t run for four weeks and it really knocked me out of my rhythm and affected my motivation. “I got back into training but I’m worried it’s nowhere near enough.

“But no matter what shape you’re in the marathon is a struggle and I’m not going there to get a fast time - I just want to get around and raise the money.”

Jordan’s tragic death has sparked all manner of fundraising efforts in his memory, with his friends and family setting up ‘Giddo’s Gift,’ which hopes to receive its official charity status this year.

Events such as a sponsored leg shave and a 12-hour trek up and down Moel Famau have helped raise funds to provide teenagers who are suffering with cancer with forms of reprieve, such as arranged days out, laptops or other entertainment devices.

“The support has been amazing,,” says Ieuan. “We’ve had a lot of events: I packed bags in the Tesco in Broughton and there’s a pub in Bagillt that held a quiz night. We’ve also had an auction and a raffle and we’ve raised about £6,000 now.”

Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity that provides specialised nursing and emotional support for young people with cancer and this year sees them as the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year.

The trust will be bringing about 700 runners and 300 race day volunteers to make up #TeamLegend and the £1.5 million set to be raised will go towards funding more nurses to ensure Teenage Cancer Trust can reach every young person diagnosed.

“It’s amazing stuff that they do,” says Ieuan. “Jordan would tell me how the ward he was in kept his morale up because there was a games room and whenever he was there, there were people he knew. It helped him a lot.”

Ieuan will have plenty of support as he pounds the roads of the nation’s capital and is using a special symbol of his and Jordan’s friendship as extra motivation.

“We’re going to plan where my family and friends stand on the route so I’ll have plenty of help getting around,” he adds. “I’ve got my name on my shirt and I’ve had ‘In memory of Giddo’ printed on it too and I hope that if I hear one or two of my supporters shouting his name it’ll really help.

“Jordan would always have a crate of Budweiser with him no matter what party we went to.

“He would collect the bottle tops and at his funeral we threw a few on his coffin and I kept one in a frame, so I’ve told my mum I want a Budweiser waiting for me when I finish.”

Ieuan’s Virgin Money Giving site is: here or people can just search: Ieuan Rowe on uk.virginmoneygiving.com or support #TeamLegend by making a £5 donation, please text LEGEND to 70500.