A dad's tumour grew outside his skull giving him 14 months longer to live - and time to have a baby.

Mike Hawthorn was diagnosed with a grade two meningioma aged 26 following a routine eye test.

After his skull failed to fuse together properly from surgery in April 2021 part of the tumour even seeped out through a crack in the bone.

It started growing on the outside of his skull - which actually relieved the pressure on his brain giving him living 14 months more than expected.

During that 14 months his wife fell pregnant and they had a baby born on March 6, 2022.

The giant tumour eventually put too much pressure on his brain and Mike died in July 2022 aged just 33.

Mike, a client services manager, left behind his 32-year-old widow Emily and five-month-old son Edison.

Now his friends will run the London marathon in his name for Brain Tumour Research.

Pals Ben Angliss, Alex and Matt Roberts and their friend Jordan Ganley will run the 26.2 mile race to raise money in his memory.

Emily said: "I’m so proud Mike’s friends are taking on the London Marathon, it’s amazing.

"They did so much for Mike when he was alive, I’m so glad they want to make a difference to other brain tumour patients dealing with this horrible disease."

Before his death Mike had been treated using an experimental drug called Avastin at the Royal Marsden Hospital at the start of 2020.

It cost £3,500 per infusion and about £80,000 in total, but it did shrink the tumour.

Eventually though, the Avastin stopped working. In April the tumour began to grow once more, causing the skin at the back of Mike’s head to split.

More neurosurgery was planned to remove the mass, however before that could happen Mike contracted an infection and became too ill for surgery.

Alex, 33, a carpenter from Stoke Poges in Bucks, met Mike at school and is raising money for Brain Tumour Research UK.

Alex said: “We all played golf together and would be out in Windsor most weekends, we were our own little clan.

"Mike was always the life of the party, he was funny and witty, the comedian of the group. He was kind too, everybody loved Mike, you couldn’t help it. His death is a massive loss to so many people.

“After Mike died I wanted to raise some money to support Emily, now a widow with a baby. But she said no, she wanted it to go to Brain Tumour Research instead, and I thought ‘yes, Mike would have wanted that’.

"It’s so important to raise money and awareness for this awful disease.”

Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Mike’s story is incredibly sad, and our hearts go out to Emily, Edison and all his family and friends.

"Unfortunately, it’s not unique as brain tumours kill more people under 40 than any other cancer.

“We’re very grateful to Alex, Matt, Ben and Jordan for taking on this huge challenge in Mike’s memory to help raise vital funds for others facing this devastating disease.

"Together we will find a cure. Our Marathon runners are supported every step of the way, and we look forward to cheering the ‘clan’ across the finish line.

“If you have your own place through the ballot, we would love you to join our Fighting Force London Marathon team.”

To support Mike’s friends visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alex-roberts39