'I started running at 70 after daughter's death'

A 74-year-old grandfather who is set to run three marathons in 14 days in memory of his daughter has said he will only stop running when they find a cure for bowel cancer.

Mike Barnes, from Preston, Lancashire, started running when he turned aged 70 after needing an outlet for his grief.

He will be completing his latest charity challenge in aid of Bowel Cancer UK, after his eldest daughter Laura died from the illness aged 36 in December 2019, just 18 months after giving birth to twin girls.

"Running helps with the grief, as I carry her memory with me on every run I do," he said.

"I have her name on my vest and people tap me on the back and say 'Laura would be proud of you'."

Laura was diagnosed with the disease in July 2017, just three months after giving birth to her twins.

She had been struggling with a bad back, tiredness and blood in her bowel movements.

"The doctor said 'well, you've just given birth to twins so that's what it will be' and so she came away," he said.

"But she went back again and she said 'no, it's still persisting'.

"She was absolutely stunned.

"And it was the surgeon who said 'well, you've got terminal cancer', that's it.

"She died when the twins were 18 months old. Her other daughter was six."

Mike is now in training to run the Brighton, Manchester and London marathons.

His other daughters, Emily and Harriet, will be running their first marathon in London alongside their father.

"The most common thing that I'm always asked when I'm running by other runners is 'if you don't mind me asking but how old are you?'," he said.

"I make that up as I go along. Depends how I feel."

According to Bowel Cancer UK, more than 40,000 people a year are diagnosed with the disease - one in 20 of them are under 50 years old.

This is something Mike wants researching.

"It seems to be hitting younger females nowadays between the ages of 20 and 40," he said.

"So a lot of research really needs to go into it and the more I can shout about it the more I can run."

Mike has already raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity - and has no intention of stopping.

"People say, 'when will you stop running?'

"Well, I'll stop running when you know bowel cancer has disappeared."

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