During the early hours of the 6th September 2016, I had a seizure and following emergency MRI and CAT scans at the RUH, Bath, a very large benign brain tumour was diagnosed.  This news was devastating to the whole family.

I had not experienced any health problems up until this totally unexpected turn of events, had moved house, retired from working at Bowerhill Primary School for over 25 years in admin and finance and was looking forward to a relaxed life!

Events moved very quickly and within a week I  underwent extensive surgery at Southmead Hospital, Bristol to remove the tumour. However at the end of October a second emergency operation was carried out to drain an infection, and I underwent a third  operation at the beginning of February 2017 to replace my forehead with a titanium plate.

The whole family and I have received incredible professional care from the neurosurgical team at Southmead Hospital and would now like to raise funds for the "The Neurosurgery Research Fund" at Southmead Hospital, Bristol to help further research into brain tumours.

Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children,
although they tend to be more common in older adults. More than 9,000 people are diagnosed with primary brain tumours in the UK
each year, of which about half are cancerous. Many others are diagnosed with secondary brain tumours.  I was lucky to be diagnosed with a benign frontal groove meningioma that has been completely removed  but will undergo a series of MRI's over the next 15 years to check that I have not developed another meningioma.

I feel exceptionally fortunate to still be alive, and be able to enjoy life and would love to raise funds to help the medical team at Southmead Hospital to research this particular health issue

I would be so grateful for donations from family and friends to this very worthwhile cause, thank you all.

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