A FATHER is on a marathon mission to raise awareness of bone cancer after his teenage son was misdiagnosed by doctors for 14 months.

By the time experts detected the cancer, it was too late for 17-year-old Martin Matthews. He passed away in April 2007.

His distraught father, Malcolm Matthews, determined to raise money for bone cancer research and awareness of the disease, donned his trainers despite never previously enjoying running .

He told the Mirror: "I did it because I was determined to do something for Martin.

"For the first couple of months I forced myself to go out running but then something just clicked and I found I was enjoying it and I actually wanted to go."

The 58-year-old, of Ash Close, Merstham, signed up for the first Royal Parks half marathon – a route through Hyde Park, St James' Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens, in 2008.

Three years on and Mr Matthews completed his third Royal Parks half marathon on Sunday.

"Each of these events have been a real emotional experience because I always think of that link with Martin.

"Running makes me feel good physically and mentally. It clears the head and relaxes you and it helps to put things in perspective.

"And by doing the fundraising I feel like I am doing something for Martin or at least doing something to help those going through what he went through."

Symptoms for Martin started with severe pain in his hip but after eight days his symptoms disappeared. He then experienced mild pain in the same hip on and off over the following year.

GPs consulted the local orthopaedic surgeon by phone and diagnosed slipped epiphysis (referring to a fracture through the growth plate) a serious but not life-threatening condition.

But 14 months later, Martin was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma and he was told the cancer had spread to his lungs and other bones. He started a course of chemotherapy but died before the treatment was complete.

This week, October 9 to 16, is Bone Cancer Awareness Week.

Mr Matthews, who works for the National Deaf Children's Society in London, said: "Three months after my son died, I went to the first Bone Cancer Research Trust Conference.

"I stood up and told the conference that I wanted general practitioners, orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists, young people and parents to know that the symptoms of primary bone cancer can come and go so that children and young people in the future, who have symptoms like Martin's can have a fighting chance of life.

"I can't bring my son back, but if giving better information about this cruel disease to everyone who needs to know, means that GPs can speed up the time taken to diagnose, so that more children and young people can start their treatment before the cancer has spread, then that is a fitting memorial to young people like him."

●Over three years Mr Matthews has raised more than £3,000 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

To sponsor him visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MalcolmMatthews