Inspired by young patients' courage, man battling cancer runs 21km for foundation

News24

08-05-2025

Aadam Forgan completed a half marathon in 1 hour 57 minutes, just a week after chemotherapy.
His campaign for CHOC raised more than R36 000, exceeding the initial goal of R20 000.
Supported by his family, including his sister, who is also battling cancer, Forgan's journey reflects the power of unity and gratitude.
Battling stage 4 colorectal cancer, 43-year-old Aadam Forgan completed the gruelling 21km Outeniqua Half Marathon in 1 hour 57 minutes - just a week after chemotherapy - with the courage of young cancer patients inspiring every step.
On 26 April, he ran the marathon and has raised more than R36 000.
Despite undergoing chemotherapy a week before the race and major liver surgery mere months ago, he completed the gruelling race.
'The reason that I did this was that at the start, I had an urge to do something for the kids who are fighting cancer, [after] my own experience going through it as well. You can imagine, as a kid, it must be quite overwhelming,' Forgan said.
Diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer alongside his sister between 2022 and 2023, Forgan's resilience and determination shine as he prepares for his third year of chemotherapy.
While in a personal battle for survival and waiting to find out if he qualifies for a liver transplant, Forgan has chosen to not only focus on his fight but to extend hope to others, particularly children battling cancer.
'I committed to do the race even though I had chemotherapy the week before the race actually went ahead. So, I wasn't feeling 100% strongest on the day, but I still gave it my best shot. And I think I did pretty well,' he said.
'I just kind of kept the cancer kids in my mind when I was going up the hills. I was using the memory of what I'd shared and what I'd seen in those kids to motivate me to get up the hills.'
It was a family affair for the Forgan clan, who stood united to support him.
He said:
My wife was with me on the day of the race; she dropped me at the start. My sister also ran with me. She's also going through cancer at the moment, and it's just been nice having her there with me.
Initially targeting R20 000, Forgan's campaign surpassed expectations by raising more than R36 000 for the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC).
'I was really overwhelmed with the response. The messages that came through were just so inspiring and motivating.
'I'm glad that people saw the need for what I was raising awareness on and that they could see that it's an important initiative. It's about making a difference, no matter how small,' he said.
As Forgan crossed the finish line of the half marathon, his wife, Mariam, stood proudly by his side.
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'I think it's beautiful because healing is multifaceted. So when a person is going through illness or any trials and tribulations in life, the best thing to bring you out of your own negative state of mind is to give and to focus on what you have and not what you don't have,' she said.
'The gratitude that you receive when you give and when you focus on all the blessings rather than the struggles is one of the most important parts of healing.'
Mariam, a dietitian, said she remembered the moment Forgan told her of his plans to run, despite his health challenges.
'When he told me, I thought, 'That's a miracle, go for it. You're just an instrument in a bigger picture, in any case'. It was obviously divinely inspired,' she added.
'I support him by making the meals that are nutritionally complete for him daily because his body is going through a lot, and he needs to have the right fuel.'
As the fundraising campaign exceeded expectations, Mariam said her heart was filled with gratitude.
'It's all by God, the amount that came in because it's going towards CHOC. And my heart was full because it supports others that are maybe going through this and don't have the financial means… We're all supporting each other on the journey through life,' she added.