News

Dying Father Continues to Run Marathons With 6-Year-Old Daughter

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Mar 16, 2013 01:12 PM EDT

In a fight with time, Iram Leon, who is terminally ill, continues to run races while pushing his 6-year-old daughter's stroller along paths that can be as long as the 26-mile path he just finished. Leon, 32, is not letting his brain cancer stop him from running, and more importantly, spending time with his little girl, Kiana. After running a total of three hours, seven minutes, and 35 seconds, Leon was second to finish the Gusher Marathon in Texas. Second only to his daughter, who he states, crossed the finish line first.

Leon has always participated in these marathons before his diagnosis. In November 2010, Leon's doctors discovered a grade two diffuse astrocytoma, a brain tumor and told him that he might only live to 40. After his diagnosis, he has completed over six runs with his daughter by his side. Getting his daughter's pram on the marathon route, however, was not easy when Leon first decided to bring Kiana. Before participating in this marathon, Leon was rejected entry four times due to the presence of the stroller. But, his persistence won and now, the daughter-father duo has more medals to add to their collection. Leon and Kiana's first race, a half marathon dating back to October 2012 in Beaumont was where they first ever crossed the finish line with the gold.

Leon hopes that the time he has remaining with his daughter will be balanced between protecting her from witnessing too much of his illness and at the same time, sharing his condition with her. He wants her to understand that he might not in her future, but that he will always love her.

"The one thing I'm not going to say on my death bead is, 'I wish I spent more time with my kid,'" Leon expressed.

Due to the tumor, Leon can no longer drive, work, or participate in contact sports. His memory and language skills will continue to deteriorate. However, he has not allowed any of those factors hurt his relationship with his daughter. Leon has even turned his brain tumor into something good and advantageous for his daughter. His inspiration has influenced the Gusher Marathon organizers to create a campaign to help fundraise $30,000 for Kiana's future education.

In the meantime, the duo is planning on taking one day at a time.

The video of Leon and Kiana can be seen here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293719/Father-terminal-brain-cancer-runs-marathon-Kiana-6-stroller--WINS.html 

© 2023 Counsel & Heal All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics