Hours after his father died from a brain tumour, a 17‑year‑old Cwmbran boy left the UK to begin a 160km charity walk in the Netherlands for the organisation that supported his family.
Theo Williams is a member of the 1367 (Caerleon) Air Cadet Squadron. The group started training earlier this year for the Nijmegen Four Days Marches.
But in April, his dad Kevin was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. The teenager spoke to his squadron about raising money for the Brain Tumour Research charity.
Jenni, his mum and Kevin’s wife, said: “He asked his warrant officer if he could turn it into a fundraiser, and she said ‘yes,’ before he finished this sentence.
“Theo completed his walk in the Netherlands…and earned his medal.
“It was bittersweet because he had to leave in the evening that his dad had died in the afternoon (Friday 17 July) and he very nearly never went. However, his dad had told him from the start, no matter what happens, you do not let me stop you going.”
‘A tight team’
Theo said: “We are a tight team. I knew I had to do it. They all looked out for me.
“The staff were brilliant. It was a struggle, mainly the mental side, being away from mum and Ruby [his sister).”
Theo joined the Air Cadets six years ago and has achieved the rank of Sergeant. His ambition is to join the Royal Air Force.
Jenni said Kevin didn’t have any symptoms or headaches before he was diagnosed.
The housing maintenance worker had two car accidents over a few days, both on the left side of the vehicles. She said his face “drooped” on the following Sunday and they called the out-of-hours GP.
He was sent to the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, where Jenni said they were all “gobsmacked” to be told there was a 10cm x 6cm tumour in his brain.
Surgery wasn’t possible due to the size of the tumour and the family were referred to St David’s Hospice Care.
Jenni said: “He never gave up hope of getting better. So positive. His outlook was always positive.”
Sponsor Theo and support brain tumour research
You can donate and support Theo’s fundraiser through his JustGiving page here.