I am feeling very fortunate to be running the London Marathon in 2019 as part of the Brainy Bunch team for the Brain Tumour Charity. Coincidentally, I received a call inviting me to participate in the marathon on the day of the 3rd anniversary of my surgery to have my brain tumour removed. 

It is particularly important to me to raise awareness and money for this charity due to my own personal experience having a brain tumour and other members of my family who have also suffered from brain tumours in the past. 

Sadly, I lost my half-brother Kent in 2010 after his ten year battle with recurring glioblastomas. His fight, strength and courage over that 10 year period will continue to be an inspiration to me.  Kent taught me and so many others to never give up hope and that life is a beautiful journey because of the obstacles.

5 years later, both my mom and I were diagnosed with meningioma brain tumours within weeks of each other in 2015. In April 2015 I flew over to Canada, after receiving a call that my mum had been admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery as a result of a brain tumour.  Once I returned to the UK in May 2015, I was diagnosed with the same type of tumour after years of experiencing daily headaches. I received exceptional care from the NHS following my diagnosis and went on to have surgery at St George’s Hospital, in August that year. 

After three years, I am still tumour free and expect  it will stay that way following my next check-up in January 2019. My mum still has a small tumour they were unable to remove because of its location but for now she is symptom free and will continue to be monitored.

As part of my training for the marathon I am running some additional races.  The first race I chose to run will be the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run 10km on Feb 3.  This race will be for Angel Oshust, an incredible woman, who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2018.  She had a love of running and of London so what better way to pay tribute to her.  

So many others are not as fortunate as I have been.  Every day that passes I am thankful for a successful recovery and that I am able to challenge myself to train for and participate  in the London Marathon. I hope for many years to come I can continue to walk for, run for, and do more for, brain tumour research.

I would be grateful for any donation that can be given to this exceptional charity which provides help and support to people suffering brain tumours - their families, and helping to fund brain tumour research.