Stephen Brabham had spent 25 years in the Army, served as a paratrooper and was a man who loved nothing more than watching his daughter run. But when he felt a pain in his shoulder in June 2023, what followed was a devastating three months that would end his life.
Now his daughter Georgina, from Halesowen, a nurse whose career has seen her care for cancer patients, is lacing up her trainers for the TCS London Marathon in his memory.
A keen runner, Georgina Brabham, 36, was always supported in her hobby by her father. He died aged 70 in 2023. It was in June of that year that he started to feel pain in his shoulder. At first, he put the pain down to gardening. He saw a GP and was sent for a CT scan. By now, a lump was quickly starting to grow on his back, which he called ‘the volcano’.
A biopsy found that Stephen had sarcoma. This was shattering news for the family. Georgina said: ‘It felt like my world was falling apart.’
Stephen’s health deteriorated quickly and a further scan found that the cancer had spread and was inoperable. He was put on palliative care and died in September 2023 – just three months after first seeing a GP.
Stephen, who was retired and lived in Sheffield, had been in the Army for 25 years and was a paratrooper before joining the police in a civilian role. Known to friends and family simply as ‘Brab’, he was husband to Jacqueline for over 40 years. Born in South Wales, he was proud of his ancestry and loved rugby, enjoying many trips to Cardiff to watch Wales – even on the occasions they were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. He loved sport, the outdoors and looked back fondly on adventure training during his Army years.
Georgina is an NHS nurse who has knowledge of sarcoma. She said: ‘After university, I started a nursing post at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, supporting patients diagnosed with aggressive bone and soft tissue tumours. The complex journey they often travelled was inspiring, so many of them taking a “just get on with it” attitude.’
In addition, during her childhood in Yorkshire, she had a classmate diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer, and there was fundraising for a CT scanner at a local children’s hospital. ‘Sadly, he would never benefit, but we knew other children would,’ she said.
Georgina is taking part in the marathon on 26 April for charity Sarcoma UK. It will be the second time she has entered, having run two years ago.
Stephen was ‘super supportive’ of her running — and typically wry about it. He made it quite clear that anyone running for fun must be mad but he was always first in line to help and never shy about asking to be kept up to date on Georgina’s training. ‘He knew I was running the London Marathon in 2024 but sadly never got to see me complete it. He’d check in regularly on how my long runs were going and help me fix my broken feet as I clocked up the miles.’
She added: ‘London 2024 was incredible – the crowd, the runners and the sheer amount of money raised for some brilliant causes. Despite the pain, as I crossed that line, I knew I wanted in again.’
Louisa Morgan, Head of Public Fundraising at Sarcoma UK, said: ‘Georgina’s story is incredibly moving. As a nurse who has dedicated her career to caring for cancer patients, she understands better than most just how devastating a diagnosis like this can be and yet nothing can truly prepare you for losing someone you love. Stephen sounds like a truly remarkable man and it is clear how much he meant to Georgina. The fact that she is returning to the London Marathon start line for a second time – this time in his memory – is a testament to both her strength and the love she had for her father. We are so grateful for her support and every pound she raises will help us ensure that fewer families face the heartbreak she has experienced.’
To donate to Georgina, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/georgina-brabham-1753303107026
