DESPITE record heat, a Chester student who ran the London Marathon in memory of his best friend said giving up never crossed his mind.

Ieuan Rowe, 19, of Bagillt, was one of 40,000 runners taking part in one of the world’s biggest races. He was running in memory of Jordan Giddins, of Flint, who died aged 18 this time last year.

Jordan ‘Giddo’ Giddins was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) at just 11-years-old. After overcoming HLH following years of gruelling treatment, the football fan was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, and lost his battle to the illness on April 27 last year.

His family and friends were left heartbroken by their loss, but were determined to turn Giddo’s energetic and generous nature into a registered charity which would benefit those in a similar position - Giddo’s Gift.

Ieuan said: “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.”

During what Ieuan said was the hardest year of his life, the sports and coaching student at Chester University decided to run the gruelling 26.2 miles in aid of Giddo’s Gift, which provides support and equipment to teenagers and young people with cancer, and The Teenage Cancer Trust, who strive to ensure no youngster faces cancer alone.

For Ieuan, facing the 24C heat alongside thousands of participants and the “overwhelming” crowd, nothing was more important than the reason for his running.

He completed the marathon in five hours, 44 minutes.

He said: “The main thing that got me through was Giddo. It’s all in his memory. At one point, around the 17 mile mark, it got really hard and I started to get leg cramp. I thought, oh no, I’ve got nine more miles to go.

“From that point, every step I took I was saying Giddo’s name out loud - people must of thought I was crazy.

“There was a point where I thought to myself I should have trained more, but not one point where I thought I was going to give up.

“It was harder than I thought, and the heat slowed everyone down. There were quite a lot of sights of medical emergencies along the way.

“But the one thing that helped me most was the crowd. You’d be running along and a little four-year-old would stick their hand out for a high-five. People were handing out sweets when you passed. The crowds were so supportive, and we had pre-arranged for my family to cheer me on from mile nine and then the finish line.”

Ieuan said bearing the name ‘Giddo’ on his Teenager Cancer Trust vest was an honour, and even gained acknowledgement from other runners running on behalf of the charity having seen Giddo’s Gift across social media.

He said: “Every time I stopped, someone with a Teenage Cancer Trust vest would cheer me on.”

Next year, Ieuan hopes to strike back “bigger and better” at the London Marathon.

He said: “Hopefully my dad and my brother will join me, which might be easier running with a few other people.”

Ieuan’s efforts, with support from communities in Flintshire and the North-West, has totalled over £6,500 to be divided between the two charities.

Meanwhile, Stephanie King, 25, from Saltney, completed the marathon in just 03:51:55.

She said: “The heat was brutal. Crowds were like nothing I have ever seen before, they were totally overwhelming.”

“Other runners spurred me on. The last six miles my body was smashed, but I just kept seeing people who were struggling through for such amazing causes.

“There were lots of people helping others. The sense of humanity near the end is amazing.”

Steph, who said she felt “relieved” as she crossed the finish line, was proud to run in aid of The Countess Charity and raised £1,600. The charity raises money for the Breast Care Scanner Appeal, in a bid to secure a new ultrasound breast scanner at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Iestyn Dewi Ingman, 35, from Mold took on the challenge for Asthma UK and raised £1,600.

He said said: “As someone who has had asthma all my life, I never thought that one day I’d be taking on the London Marathon. I’ve had setbacks with my training, but the support I’ve received from Asthma UK has been really helpful. I’m so proud of myself.”

Andy Davies, of Sandycroft, was pleased with his finish time of four hours 15 minutes under the challenging heat. He raised more than £2,300 for Children With Cancer UK.

Katie Willis, of Saltney, set herself a new personal best of 05:43:03 and managed to raise more than £2,000 for the Neuro Therapy Centre, in Saltney.

She said: “I’m raising money for the Neuro Therapy Centre which is small charity based just outside Chester. They have been doing a sterling job in helping my mum retain the ability to walk over the last two years and without their help, we would be lost.”