Thank you for for taking the time to read my Fundraising page for the everso challenging National three peaks challenge that I will be embracing in June this year! 

Many of you who know me well enough will know our families story and for those who don’t here it is -

“Good news the back CT scan is fine, now let’s talk about the head CT scan....”

These were words I could have never imagined hearing! My husband Mark had a grand mal  seizure at home the day after his 38th birthday.  After a speedy drive home from work and a ride in an ambulance we found ourselves in hospital! You see it on telly all the time with medical dramas - let the patient have some positive news and then hit them with the bomb shell and what a bombshell it was! 

We were told Mark had a shadow on his head CT scan.  A BRAIN TUMOUR and care moving forward was taken over by the fabulous team at St. George’s Tooting.  It was all very quick and surgery was performed on Monday 8th December 2014.  The days that followed were the worse in my life, luckily Mark doesn’t remember them! My world stopped, Mark was unresponsive post surgery, my hope for the future faded and my fears for my children grew! Being sat in intensive care was a surreal feeling of the complete unknown. I had to put all my trust into the hands of the medical team who at points had no idea why Mark was unresponsive! Intensive care I thought would be a terrifying place but actually I felt very safe there! After 2 days it was a visit from my Brother of all people to get a positive response from Mark the words “alright Plimsol” filled me with hope and frustration at the same time! How was it he could remember his brother in law but not his wife, children or parents! Any way I promise I’m over that now! He went from strength to strength from here. Discharged on the saturday a total of 6 days In hospital. The time spent at St. George’s honestly felt like a rollercoaster. 

Mark’s recovery took months and it was no easy drive! 

He wasn’t working, couldn’t drive, was depressed (as much as he would say otherwise) and life was definitely not how it was before. With Isabelle 4 and Joshy only 2 - I just put one foot in front of the other and carried on! 

We are now 4 years down the road and there are still moments where the bumps can feel like mountains  and Mark’s 6 monthly MRI scans always come around  far to fast but we are coping better with managing the anxiety and stress that each one brings! 

It has been a true test of our marriage and friendship they say having kids is hard - try throwing in a Brain Tumour! 

So now it’s 2019 I wanted to do something for me! I love to walk and found a lot of well needed headspace throughout this journey walking my spaniels with fab friends in the Surrey Hills so what better way to challenge myself and hit those mountains head on with 5 fab ladies by my side! 

So bring on Ben Nevis, Scarfell pike and Snowden!  Oh and if you hadn’t guessed my chosen charity is of course The Brain Tumour Charity! Here’s a bit about them -

The Brain Tumour Charity is at the forefront of the fight to defeat brain tumours, making a difference every day to the lives of people with a brain tumour and their families. We fund pioneering research to increase survival, raise awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours and provide support for everyone affected to improve quality of life. We are committed to having the biggest possible impact for every person affected by a brain tumour, and to defending the most amazing part of the human body.

If you feel you can support me on this challenge please sponsor me - any sponsorship and words of encouragement are gratefully received! 

Brain tumours you think are rare, or won’t happen to you. If only this were true. 5 years ago I didn’t know anyone who’d had a brain tumour and now I know 3 (and not through Mark having had one!) 

Many thanks in advance,

Rachel xx