A man from Basingstoke has completed an ultramarathon in a moving show of support for his father.
Ollie Parsons ran 55km on February 15 to raise funds for the North Hampshire Prostate Cancer Support Group after his father, John Parsons, was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in July 2025.
Despite the diagnosis, John has experienced no symptoms. His son Ollie decided to take on the gruelling challenge to raise awareness and give back to a charity that has supported their family.
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On his JustGiving page, Ollie said: "Watching him face this battle with strength and courage has inspired me to push my own limits physically and mentally."
He added: "I have never run this far before."
Ollie originally hoped to raise £500 but has so far raised £4,100 from more than 180 supporters.
Friends and family gathered to cheer him on and celebrate at the Riverdene pub in Basingstoke after he completed the run on Sunday, February 15 at 5pm.
Ollie's sister, Ria Parsons, said: "You’ve made me the proudest sister, you should be so proud of yourself."
John began radiotherapy treatment in January, receiving 20 sessions over four weeks.
Ollie said: "Let’s do this for dad, and for every man fighting prostate cancer."
Ollie has encouraged others to continue donating, reminding supporters that every contribution makes a difference.
He said: "Any donation, big or small, will mean the world."
The ultramarathon, which is 55km (approximately 34.2 miles) and more than 1km longer than a standard marathon, was Ollie’s first at this distance.
His journey was followed closely by friends, family, and well-wishers, many of whom posted messages of support and congratulations on social media and through the fundraising page.
In messages left on JustGiving, supporters described Ollie as "inspirational" and praised his commitment to honouring his father’s courage with an equally bold feat.
His mum, Nicola, said: "If anyone would like to donate to this fantastic charity, which is an amazing support, not just for the men going through this, but for the wives and families who have also been affected, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ultra4awareness."
Article by Cael Miller
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