A COLCHESTER man who found out he had a brain tumour following a flight back from a lad’s holiday is now running to fund vital research.

David Jones, 28, spent two weeks in Tenerife last July and on his way home suffered a seizure on the plane while he was asleep.

The seizure was so powerful it broke two vertebrae in his spine.

Once the plane had landed Mr Jones was rushed to East Surrey Hospital, where he had a second seizure and his tumour was diagnosed.

Eight days later at St George’s Hospital, in London, Mr Jones went under the knife and earlier this year was given the all-clear.

Now, he is training to run the London Marathon on April 24 for the national Brain Tumour Research to support early detection and awareness.

He said: “There were doctors on board my flight and when I came round they were cleaning off my shirt where I’d been foaming at the mouth but I knew nothing about it, I just felt pain in my back. I tried to walk but couldn’t, so I was wheeled to the main terminal and met by paramedics.

“I didn’t know what it all meant at this point, I was more concerned about my back. But when the tumour was diagnosed later that night and I needed more tests, everything became very serious.

“My stepdad had died of stomach cancer so I knew a lot about it, but didn’t want to think too much – I just waited for the results. Fortunately my younger sister is a doctor and I had my girlfriend, my mum and my other sister around me a lot, plus the two friends I went on holiday with so I had plenty of support. “The brain surgery was done very quickly. I was off work for around two months while I recovered and my back healed then decided to do the marathon.”

Before Mr Jones’ surgery he was an active runner. Recently he completed the Colchester Half Marathon alongside his boss, who took on the challenge to help raise his £3,000 target.

The seizure meant he lost his driving licence for a year so he began running six-kilometres to and from work.

He said: “I eased myself back into the gym and once I felt fine running daily, I knew it was time to register for a full marathon. It’s always been on my bucket list but I never had a charity to run for.

“I’ve been trying to raise the money since October in every way I can but now is crunch time and I really want to hit the goal.”

To sponsor David Jones, visit justgiving.com/davidjonesdj.