Raised: 71%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £706.21
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My story

 

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I would just like to let you know my story if you would spare me a few minutes of your time.

I am now 45 and apart from one minor hernia op about 3 years ago I have always been relatively fit and healthy. I have worked at the same firm since leaving school, over 28 year now. I'm a lifelong Grimsby Town fan having attended my first match in 1972.

 

At the end of  January 2008  I began to get headaches and seeing as I work with computers all day, I thought I may need glasses, so I went for an eyetest. Anyway, the opticians obviously saw something was wrong and referred me to my local hospital (Grimsby). Once there I was admitted immediately and a CT and MRI scan later I was told I had this tumour and the next morning I was transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary as they do not do brain ops at Grimsby.

My tumour was a meningioma ,  Luckily for me (if you can say luckily) I have been told  they are 95% sure it is benign and they have removed the entire tumour. It was a long pencil shaped tumour on the top of my brain and they had to open up the top of my head to remove it.

I was in originally for nearly 4 weeks when they did 2 ops. Firstly an embolism to block the blood supply to the tumour which took 3 hours and then the op to remove it which took 6 hours. Two days after my main op I had a seizure, the result of which is that the DVLA have revoked my driving licence for a year and I am currently taking phenytoin tablets to control any further seizures. Luckily, so far I have had no more. I came home after 4 weeks and everything seemed fine but then I noticed my wound was leaking.

I was referred back to Hull and spent a further 6 weeks there and had another 2 ops. Firstly they removed the bone flap in my head which had become infected and then a re-exploration of the main op as my body was rejecting an artificial dura which was put in at the time. During this 6 week stay I was on 12 bags of antibiotics intravenously every day and also had a lumber drain fitted for a similar amount of time to drain excessive fluid in my body.

I came out of hospital the second time in early May 2008 and i've been back at work fulltime since July 1st 2008. Since I have been out I have raised almost £3000  for Brain Tumour UK through various events.


I need to go back into hospital shortly to have an artificial bone put back in my head. I've been through worse but I'm not looking forward to it as they will have to open up my entire wound again. I was told this would be March/April time but as of today (10th August) I am still waiting for the call.

 I was due my 2nd yearly MRI scan at the end of May 2009 (which again I am still waiting for).

I have been given a second chance and intend to grab it with both hands and enjoy the rest of my life and anything I can do to raise awareness of this awful illness, I will be more than happy to do.

If you would like to sponsor me that would be fantastic. Donations go direct into the bank account of Brain Tumour UK.

I also host a charity football quiz league which is held on the first Monday of each month at The Tap & Spile pub in Garth Lane, Grimsby, and Brain Tumour UK has also been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from Grimsby Town and Lincoln football fans "Bike To The Bank" event this season. I am also in the early stages of planning a Grimsby Town Sportsmans evening when hopefully Mike Newell and a couple of current Grimsby Town player will attend alongside some ex Town players who have already agreed to. I hope that these two events will raise another £2000 approximately.

 

Also a number of fans who I travel to Grimsby away games with have booked a charity skydive to raise funds for Brain Tumour UK. So far there are about a dozen definites which will hopefully raise a nice sum towards brain tumour research.

Also, I have now successfully reapplied for my driving licence and I am now the proud owner of a 58 reg Fiat Punto Active. I want to thank all the friends and family who were fantastic for the year I was unable to drive but its great now to have my freedom back and not having to rely on anyone.

Thanks for reading ,

Les

 

UPDATE - DECEMBER 09

 

The skydive and sportsmans evening has now been held and over £4000 has been raised from the 2 events. On a personal note I have now had my 2nd yearly MRI scan and thankfully it has shown that there is no sign of the tumour regrowing and I have also now had the op for the replacement bone-flap. This operation went quite well and I have now had the staples removed. The wound was quite swollen though so I have had it aspirated (drained) and my head rebandaged. I go back to Hull on the 8th of December for the wound to be checked..

Dear Les, from one Brechin to another best wishes for 2010. Take care Melissa x Donation by melissa brechin 29/12/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Hi Les, glad to here your on the mend,hope santa gives the rest of the money to make your total amount. Donation by wes barnett 07/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hi Les!BTUK is amazing&as a fellow BTsufferer I know how important its to raise awareness&donations Luv Lianne&Carole x Donation by Lianne Munaf 02/12/09  

£30.00

Think you are great Les and i hope that we both never have to deal with the tumours again !! Donation by Mandy Pepper 01/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I hope the future is bright for you and Grimsby Town FC. A Bath City fan. Donation by Demon Headmaster 07/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Barry Woolley 07/11/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Les, love Grimsby to bits, but I am Bath to the bone, give us a wave and hear the city sing! Donation by Suffolk Applechucker 06/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Have known you for years Les and i know you'll beat this setback. UTM. Donation by ANTHONY TINDALL 08/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 05/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Hi, I'm a friend of a friend & stumbled on your fundraising page on facebook, keep up the good work! Donation by Greenie 01/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Another fellow footy supporter adding to the pot! :) Donation by James Parker (Herschel - Exeweb) 18/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Another ECAFC supporter here and a cancer survivor since 1993. Thanks for all your efforts Les Donation by Roger Conway 17/08/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

On behalf Ruby McDonald, 2 Brain tumour ops, 2004, 2009. Raised thru C2C bikeride. Up the Mariners! Only one Ryan Bennett Donation by scooterkat 06/08/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Up the Mariners Les. Keep up the good work matey. Donation by Si AKA Simariner ;-) 28/07/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

All the best Les. Donation by Mark_AFCB 22/07/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck Donation by Silkyman 23/04/09  

£5.00

Good luck from a fellow Mariner. UTM. Donation by Just passing by 17/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Les we know you love ECFC Donation by YG 16/04/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck from a fan of your new 2nd team! Donation by Matt Scratchley (exeweb-mammooman) 14/04/09  

£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid

Great cause Les , Keep up good work Donation by Steve Gaunt 22/03/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

keep on the JD & off the bitter mate, good luck Donation by Dave, Toni & Adam 18/03/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by James Bell 02/03/09  

£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid

Donation by James Bell 19/01/09  

£2.50 + £0.71 Gift Aid

Good luck with the diet Les. Hope you reach your target. Keep strong and you will succeed. Donation by Julie and Dave Engledow 16/01/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Scott Jackson 13/01/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

stay off the cider mate ,keep going Donation by rooky 12/01/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Les, sort of puts things in perspective , we at FC Milan wish you all the best for your future health, many thanks for your recent assistance, Steve Donation by fc milan 09/01/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hi mate, long time no speak (is it really 28 years since Chelly!). Hope all is going well, keep up the great work and good luck for 2009. Donation by Jon Black 25/12/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

keep your chin up les, your doing a good job pal =] Donation by Luke O'Hara 22/12/08  

£3.71 + £1.05 Gift Aid

Donation by James Bell 22/12/08  

£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £520.21
  Offline donations: £186.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £136.85

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