Mum of brave schoolboy Finlay Guppy from New Milton who died of cancer is running the London Marathon to raise money for Children with Cancer UK

A MOTHER who lost her son to cancer is running the London Marathon to honour his dream of finding better cancer treatments for youngsters.

As reported, earlier this year schoolboy Finlay Guppy (11) raised £2,700 after undertaking a 12 hour game-a-thon.

The money was for the charity Young Lives Vs Cancer. Finlay, from New Milton, was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour – a rare kidney cancer which affects children – at the age of seven in 2021.

Sadly, just weeks after his amazing fundraising effort in February, Finlay’s family learned the chemotherapy he was undergoing was not working any more and he died.

His mum Nikki (42) revealed that it had been her son’s dream to become a scientist in the hope that he could help find better treatment for youngsters like himself.

She said: “He absolutely loved science and he really wanted to become a scientist.

“His treatment made him feel sick and he lost all his hair. Finlay wanted to find kinder treatments and invent new machines to help other children going through cancer so they wouldn’t have to endure the painful side effects he experienced.”

Nikki said her son “always, always wanted to help others”, saying: “Despite what he was going through he always thought of others. He had an absolute heart of gold.

“I am a very proud mummy and his dad is equally proud. Our son was very special.”

Earlier this year Nikki walked 100k in the Peak District and raised £14,000.

Then, despite admitting that the furthest she has ever run is 10k, she decided to enter the London marathon to raise money for Children With Cancer UK.

She said: “I hate running and the training has been tough, but it is nothing like as tough as what children like Finlay go through.

“I want to raise money for the charity knowing that it will go to what Finlay always wanted, finding better treatments for young people with cancer.

“That is what Children with Cancer UK is working towards and their mission is something that deeply resonates with Finlay’s vision.”

Nikki says her son is the “first thing” she thinks of in the morning and “the last thing at night”.

Describing Finlay as “wonderful”, she told how he “just loved the same thing as other boys”. “He loved being around his friends, having fun, he had the best sense of humour,” she said.

Nikki visits Finlay’s grave every day and takes one of the books from his bedroom to read to him.

She said: “He had so many, literally loads. So I am working through them. We miss Finlay so much and it helps feel close to him.”

To donate visit https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/nicola-guppy