I am running the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 13th October 2019 for The Brain Tumour Charity in aid of my friend Ria Melvin. On the 23rd December 2018 my dad called me with some devastating news a family friend and my childhood best friend Ria Melvin had suffered a large stroke caused by an underlying grade 4 glioblastoma brain tumour - a fast growing aggressive tumour that has a high chance of returning. Ria underwent urgent 5 hour brain surgery to remove the tumour on a specialist neurosurgical ward at Plymouth Hospital. During her hospital stay Ria selflessly raised over £13,000 for new equipment on the ward she was being treated on.
After returning home to Essex Ria worked hard on her rehab and slowly regained near full function. Ria then went through 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy and chemotherapy to reduce the risk of the tumour returning. She is now undergoing 6 months of further chemotherapy treatment as part of her road to recovery.
Ria and I have shared alot of memories over the years including family holidays, riding our bikes everywhere, countless sleep overs, snow days, witnessing her sister accidentally break her arm when sling shooting her across the room! Then growing up and celebrating my hen do and wedding party together. Ria has so much positive energy and is the most motivated, caring and strongest 23 year old I know.
Currently only a small percent of cancer research funding is spent on brain tumour research so please sponsor little or large for this wonderful charity which 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. They 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. They 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.