A Watford-born man is taking on an epic 100-mile challenge this month as he runs the South Downs 100 in memory of his dad who died from a brain tumour.

Edward Scott, 29, who now lives in Crystal Palace, southeast London, will take on the challenge on June 10 to raise money for the Peace Hospice Care in Watford, the charity who cared for his father Brian Scott before he died in February this year.

Brian, 67, a married father of three boys who lived Bushey, died of a grade four brain tumour only three months after diagnosis, which came as a huge shock to his whole family.

Watford Observer: Brian ScottBrian Scott (Image: The Scott family)

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The tumour was only spotted after a brain scan following a fall at home.

Stuck in hospital throughout the Christmas period, he was eventually discharged and cared for at home by his family, supported by Peace Hospice’s community-based nurses, before he was admitted as an in-patient at the hospice during the final few weeks of his illness.

Ed said: “The service that Peace Hospice Care provides is unspeakably important. I want to make sure other families get that same support when they need it.

“They didn’t just attend to Dad’s medical needs but listened to us, talked and comforted us when we were sad, and helped with practical advice.”

His father spent his last 36-hours in the Peace Hospice inpatient unit where he was able to rest in his own room with an en-suite bathroom.

Ed added: “At some point during the 100-mile race, probably after the 50-mile mark, it’s going to get very hard.

“I’m sure I’ll draw on my experiences over the last few months and that will spur me on. I’ll remind myself I’ve been through worse and that this is only short-term.”

Watford Observer: Ed in trainingEd in training (Image: David Miller)

So far, Ed has surpassed his £1,000 target and raised £1,339 via the JustGiving page.

Tasneem Choucair, senior community fundraiser at Peace Hospice Care, said: “This is a huge challenge that Ed is taking on and we’re delighted that he’s using it to raise funds for Peace Hospice Care.

“His epic fundraising effort will ensure we can be there to support more local people and their families, who are facing life-limiting illnesses.”