Rachel Leonard
Rachel Leonard's fundraising page
Fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Story
Hi everyone,
Thanks very much for visiting my page.
What I'm doing & why:
I've decided to walk a half-marathon (13 miles) through the streets of Manchester on the night of 17th-18th April 2010 to raise money for Cancer Research's work on brain cancer. I will be walking in memory of my wonderful Dad, who sadly passed away last June from a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) - the most aggressive and most common type of brain tumour.
About my Dad:
My Dad was truly one of a kind. He looked after our very sick Mum and, when she was too ill to live with us any more, he brought my brother and me up single-handedly. He was loving, selfless, devoted, reliable, genuine, warm, strong, determined, independent, intelligent, articulate, charming and very humorous. He loved to talk to people & make them laugh, and enjoyed singing and making up rude songs!
Dad's illness:
Dad first became ill in December 2006 when, after suffering from frequent headaches, he had a sudden seizure & was rushed to hospital. At first, he was misdiagnosed as suffering from the effects of an 'old stroke'. It took 7 months to correctly diagnose Dad with inoperable, terminal brain cancer and he was given a prognosis of just 2-18 months. So he did extremely well to battle against the disease for a further 23 months, while bravely enduring palliative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery & several infections.
Dad suffered from severe headaches, frequent seizures, weakness mainly on the right-hand side of his body, a restricted field of vision, hallucinations and changes in his memory, emotions & judgement. Although Dad had a very expressive face & eyes, it was particularly painful to see him unable to speak the many thoughts, feelings & concerns he must have had as his illness progressed. As time went on, his body weakened, his drowsiness increased, he had difficulty swallowing and he suffered heart failure & fluid on his lungs. He was admitted to the local hospice who did a fantastic job of caring for him towards the end. Fortunately, I was able to stay with Dad at the hospice while he was in a coma and was with him when he passed away.
Supporting Dad through his illness has been my most difficult but proudest achievement.
Facts about Brain Tumours in the UK:
+Brain tumours can affect anyone at any age & the vast majority of brain tumours have no known cause.
+Brain tumours are the most common type of solid childhood tumour & more children now die of brain cancer than from any other cancer, even leukaemia.
+Brain tumours kill more people under 40 than any other form of cancer.
+20% of all cancer patients also develop secondary brain cancer.
+Brain cancer has one of the worst survival rates, with only 14% of adults and 65% of children living longer than 5 years. For a GBM, these 5-year figures are much lower at just 6% for adults and 20% for children.
+As the brain controls the whole body, the effects of a brain tumour can be profound causing wide-ranging symptoms such as seizures, severe headaches, sickness, drowsiness, physical disability, cognitive impairment, sensory problems, and personality & hormonal changes. The exact symptoms depend on the tumour's location in the brain.
+Unlike other cancers, brain cancer needs new chemotherapy drugs designed specifically to cross the blood-brain barrier.
+Despite these difficulties & appalling statistics, brain tumour research receives disproportionately less funding than other cancers.
We've done so much fantastic work and had so much success with other cancers. Now we urgently need to extend our research into brain tumours - to raise public awareness, prevent future occurrence & develop new treatments. Lets improve the outlook for sufferers to at least a level comparable to other cancers.
Please help turn things around by sponsoring me & giving as generously as you can - even the smallest donation will help!
Thank you very, very much!
Luv Rach xxx
For more information on the walk & where your money will go, please visit http://shine.cancerresearchuk.org/
For more information on brain tumours, please visit http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/brain-tumour/index.htm
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Thanks very much for visiting my page.
What I'm doing & why:
I've decided to walk a half-marathon (13 miles) through the streets of Manchester on the night of 17th-18th April 2010 to raise money for Cancer Research's work on brain cancer. I will be walking in memory of my wonderful Dad, who sadly passed away last June from a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) - the most aggressive and most common type of brain tumour.
About my Dad:
My Dad was truly one of a kind. He looked after our very sick Mum and, when she was too ill to live with us any more, he brought my brother and me up single-handedly. He was loving, selfless, devoted, reliable, genuine, warm, strong, determined, independent, intelligent, articulate, charming and very humorous. He loved to talk to people & make them laugh, and enjoyed singing and making up rude songs!
Dad's illness:
Dad first became ill in December 2006 when, after suffering from frequent headaches, he had a sudden seizure & was rushed to hospital. At first, he was misdiagnosed as suffering from the effects of an 'old stroke'. It took 7 months to correctly diagnose Dad with inoperable, terminal brain cancer and he was given a prognosis of just 2-18 months. So he did extremely well to battle against the disease for a further 23 months, while bravely enduring palliative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery & several infections.
Dad suffered from severe headaches, frequent seizures, weakness mainly on the right-hand side of his body, a restricted field of vision, hallucinations and changes in his memory, emotions & judgement. Although Dad had a very expressive face & eyes, it was particularly painful to see him unable to speak the many thoughts, feelings & concerns he must have had as his illness progressed. As time went on, his body weakened, his drowsiness increased, he had difficulty swallowing and he suffered heart failure & fluid on his lungs. He was admitted to the local hospice who did a fantastic job of caring for him towards the end. Fortunately, I was able to stay with Dad at the hospice while he was in a coma and was with him when he passed away.
Supporting Dad through his illness has been my most difficult but proudest achievement.
Facts about Brain Tumours in the UK:
+Brain tumours can affect anyone at any age & the vast majority of brain tumours have no known cause.
+Brain tumours are the most common type of solid childhood tumour & more children now die of brain cancer than from any other cancer, even leukaemia.
+Brain tumours kill more people under 40 than any other form of cancer.
+20% of all cancer patients also develop secondary brain cancer.
+Brain cancer has one of the worst survival rates, with only 14% of adults and 65% of children living longer than 5 years. For a GBM, these 5-year figures are much lower at just 6% for adults and 20% for children.
+As the brain controls the whole body, the effects of a brain tumour can be profound causing wide-ranging symptoms such as seizures, severe headaches, sickness, drowsiness, physical disability, cognitive impairment, sensory problems, and personality & hormonal changes. The exact symptoms depend on the tumour's location in the brain.
+Unlike other cancers, brain cancer needs new chemotherapy drugs designed specifically to cross the blood-brain barrier.
+Despite these difficulties & appalling statistics, brain tumour research receives disproportionately less funding than other cancers.
We've done so much fantastic work and had so much success with other cancers. Now we urgently need to extend our research into brain tumours - to raise public awareness, prevent future occurrence & develop new treatments. Lets improve the outlook for sufferers to at least a level comparable to other cancers.
Please help turn things around by sponsoring me & giving as generously as you can - even the smallest donation will help!
Thank you very, very much!
Luv Rach xxx
For more information on the walk & where your money will go, please visit http://shine.cancerresearchuk.org/
For more information on brain tumours, please visit http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/brain-tumour/index.htm
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.