Clara King
25 April, 2025
News

Hemel Hempstead man top fundraiser at London Marathon raising £43.5k in memory of his son

My husband Jim King from Hemel Hempstead, Herts, has currently raised £43.5k for Ewings Sarcoma bone cancer research in memory of our 15 year son Ethan, who tragically died last month from this disease. 

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He is running the Boston Marathon on Monday 21st April and then the London Marathon 6 days later on Sunday 27th April and he is currently the number 1 fundraiser for all London Marathon entrants. https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/jim-king

 

You can find details of Ethan's diagnosis and cancer journey in the above link to the fundraising page. But Ethan was nearly 16 and was a student at The Hemel Hempstead School, due to take his GSCE's this summer where he was predicted 8s and 9s. He was under the care of GOSH from the age of 9 but then moved over to UCLH in 2024. He has been supported by Watford hospital since diagnosis in 2018. On the fundraising page if you click on the London Marathon icon top right it takes you to another page and if you scroll down its shows the top fund raisers and Jim is number 1.

In addition our family have been supported by the Hemel community. Ethan who before cancer was a keen runner and has done 75 5k park runs before the age of 9 and in his honour on Saturday 29th March Gadebridge parkrun asked people to run for Ethan in Watford FC shirts (he was a season ticket holder) or Oasis t shirts (his favourite band) 503 people turned up where as a normal turn out would be about 100/140 including Ethan's teachers and medical teams. Luther Blisset Ex Watford player and who Ethan's middle name is named after also turned up to show support.

Ethan's dad Jim King with Luther Blissett at Ethan's Parkrun in Gadebridge Park Hemel
Ethan's dad Jim King with Luther Blissett at Ethan's Parkrun in Gadebridge Park Hemel Credit: Me

On Tuesday at the Watford V Hull Match, Watford arranged for a minute round of applause for Ethan during the 15th minute of the match to represent his age. Attached again is a video of this (I have many including an official one from Watford)

This story, although filled with great sadness, shows the Hemel Hempstead community coming together in so many ways to show their support for the family and would also help raise awareness of this rare type of cancer that gets very little funding

Ethan's family
Ethan's family Credit: mine

Ethan's school friends and teachers
Ethan's school friends and teachers Credit: Me
People in Watford shirts
People in Watford shirts Credit: ?
Ethan's dad (Jim) and sister (Heidi)
Ethan's dad (Jim) and sister (Heidi) Credit: Mine
Parkrun
Parkrun Credit: ?