Key Highlights :
When Jelle Fresen was diagnosed with a grade 4 medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer, it was a devastating blow. After a 17-hour surgery and nine months of chemotherapy, the 37-year-old had to learn to talk again while undergoing an additional six weeks of therapy.
His then-girlfriend Danielle Epstein, 32, was devastated and found his cancer battle “damaging” her mental health. She said she felt “awful”, “worried”, and “devastated” and knew she had to leave him.
“I was having panic attacks and was on so much medication to sort myself out I just couldn’t function,” she said. “I still love Jelle deeply and want to support him, but I realised I couldn’t stay with him as his partner.”
Since parting ways, Danielle has decided to honour her ex-boyfriend in a unique way. Ahead of Sunday’s London Marathon, she is preparing to run the race in his honour and is raising money for brain tumour research.
“I felt so helpless watching all this unfold, so I knew I had to do something,” she said.
Danielle said she started running in order to challenge herself and as a tribute to her ex-boyfriend. “I’m not a runner, but Jelle has done marathons before, so I thought it would be a challenge for me and a nice tribute to him, and it felt like something to aim towards,” she said.
Preparing for the marathon has been physically and mentally challenging for Danielle, but she says it’s nothing compared to what her former partner experienced. “I have the best motivation: If Jelle can go through all of this, then I can run a marathon,” she said.
Jelle will be at the finish line on Sunday, supporting his ex-girlfriend. “When she said she was going to do a marathon, I must admit I had my doubts,” he said. “I think she only did about 5km when we were together, and that was with a lot of complaining. I’ve got so much respect for her discipline and perseverance.”
Danielle has set up a fundraising page to raise money for brain tumour research, with a goal of collecting about $12,500. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and her dedication to honouring her ex-boyfriend and helping others.