A fleet of Father Christmases are set to take to the streets of County Durham on motorbikes in memory of a farmer who died from a brain tumour.
Adam Forster died from a glioblastoma (GBM) in May 2014 when he was just 42 years old. Since then, his family has worked with charity Brain Tumour Research to raise £32,000 with the aim of finding a cure for the disease.
Adam's dad Terry Forster, 72, from Consett, has led the Santa Bike Run around Consett, Delves Lane, Shotley Bridge and Lanchester for the past eight years. And the convoy will be out again on Saturday December 17 decked out with tinsel, Christmas cuddly toys, and even a "sleigh" carrying a life-size Christmas sheep.
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Adam's sister, Kerry Robson, 44, said: "The trauma we went through will never leave us, it’s just something we have to live with, but this is a bit of fun to raise much-needed money for a great cause.”
Adam, who farmed at Camperdown, Shotley Bridge, became unwell in May 2013 after slipping a disc in his back. A month later, he had pins and needles in his arm, and an MRI scan at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) revealed the tumour.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy proved unsuccessful and Adam died at home 11 months later on May 3 2014 with his family beside him. Kerry, who is show secretary for Northumberland County Show, said: "What happened to Adam was devastating for us all. The disease and the treatment ravaged him, and it was awful to see.
"Adam went from being a big, handsome bloke to a bed ridden shadow of his former self. This disease is horrific and something that nobody should have to go through.
"Adam was a very private man in his illness, but he would be proud to think that by talking about what happened to him we are making a difference for other people and channelling our grief into something positive."
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We’re really grateful to Terry, Kerry all of the Santa Bike Run team as it’s only with the support of people like them that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Adam who are forced to fight this awful disease."
For more information on Brain Tumour Research, visit its website. To donate to Kerry's fundraiser and the Santa Bike Run, click here.
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