Father opens up about losing his wife and youngest son to brain cancer

A heartbroken father has opened up about the grief he endured after losing his wife and two-year-old sone to different forms of brain cancer within just eight months of each other.

Sara Chivers, 34, from Melbourne, passed away from aggressive brain cancer in January. In a tragic blow, which doctors described as 'lightning striking in the same place twice', her two-year-old son, Alfie Chivers, was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2017. He passed away in June.

Father Leigh, 34, has detailed the devastating loss in an emotional interview with ABC's 7:30.

'I just hit a wall where I couldn't see a future,' he said.

'It makes you realise how precious the time you have with your family is, how precious the time with your children is, and how all our time is finite.'

Leigh added that he has fought to not let his tragedy take over his life, and with the help of his four-year-old son, Hugh, continues to raise awareness of brain cancer.

As well as raising money for brain cancer awareness, Leigh has started training for the Hawaiian Ironman, a gruelling race consisting of a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a full 42km marathon.

It was always Sara's dream for her husband to compete in the Hawaiian Ironman. When the race organisers heard Leigh's story, they offered him an honorary spot.

Leigh will compete in the race on October 13, in honour of his late wife and son.

This story originally appeared on New Idea.