Hello and welcome to my page - I have set up this second page after we successfully raised lots of money the last few years for Brain Tumour Research, as a new page dedicated to my upcoming London marathon & boxing fight 

Before I tell you my story, or part of it, I just want to thank you all for the kindness and support you have shown this last few years since my diagnosis - I could not have fought so hard without your support 

Where it all began - I was working as well known model in Hollywood, I was at the Playboy Mansion, I appeared in Hollywood movies, commercials, magazines across the globe - you will never have met anyone who was living their dream more than I was when tragedy struck and I started to feel more unwell than usual (I had always had this mystery fatigue affecting me) and so I travelled back home to the UK when a mystery virus hit and I was rushed to hospital 

I was placed in intensive care at the Norfolk & Norwich hospital whilst they ran tests, believing it to be Meningitis but I could not produce spinal fluid to check. During my treatment I was moved to the Neuro ward for more daily tests and IV's and anti viral trying to fight something that turned out not to be there. 

One lucky day a neurologist came along and whilst doing my usual tests (face pricks, flopping my arms around, not bringing me any cake - the usual) he found my right arm catch when he flopped it (I'm sure theres a technical term) and ordered a CT scan. I was sat around merrily eating pizza my friends had brought in I had no idea what this meant I assumed the meningitis had spread to my brain when they said they had found a mass. 

After my spinal tap was successful they sent me for an MRI, little did I know what was about to happen. The next morning the DR's were avoiding me I was getting quite frustrated as wanted to get out and head to my birthday party - it was my 30th in a few days time and I had already sent my friends to Las Vegas to wait for me! I was so excited to get out and get on that plane and celebrate the big 30!

Eventually my family came in, and the Dr took me and mum into a small room, alarm bells still didn't go off as to why he couldn't talk to me on the ward in front of my sister and boyfriend at the time. He sat us down and said ''nothing I will tell you in the next 10 minutes will be remembered but try and understand this, you have a brain tumour'' 

My immediate reaction was to look to mum and her face dropped and that image still haunts me and upsets me more than my own reaction, I told her it was ok, and that I had a good run. I told her I had achieved more at 30 than most people do in a lifetime and to not be sad as I was not. I lived with no regrets and was ok to face my own death now as there was nothing left for me to achieve. (This is how I continue to live and love my life now)

I cracked some jokes (tumour humour) and the Dr told me the news had not sunk in as I was not angry, had not thrown anything or hit anything, called him a liar or cried. I said I can if you want :) 

In reality I had known for many years I had cancer, it was an off feeling in my body, and no tests ever showed anything, the constant unexplained fatigue, and just a feeling in my self that something was wrong. They told me it was all in my head - turned out they were correct in a different way haha!

So to be it was no news, and it was a small relief to know I had been right, and it had been found. I asked ''what do we do?'' and got to work getting in the best shape of my life, I ran daily, I alkalised my diet, I researched tirelessly for hours with my mother to find my best chances for survival I did not want to leave it up to fate - I was blessed with finding the number 1 surgeon in the UK Mr Stephen Price who came off sabbatical to treat me. The care I received by them at Addenbrookes was second to none. He told me I could have a second choice of surgeon but he was the best, he was the only man I wanted inside my head on this occasion! 

I took my trip to LA but it was a goodbye trip, to say goodbye to my friends there and to those at the Playboy Mansion that felt like my home. I came home and had 8 hours of brain surgery (poor mum it was harder on her than me - I was asleep I was fine!) waking up to you guessed it - practical jokes :) That was the first tear I ever cried in my journey when they took me from mum and took me into theatre alone. Just the one tear mind - I was a bad ass back then!

They told me I would be in no state after my brain had been cut out to know much, but I was instantly myself up to my old tricks and when mum came in looking all worried I pretended I did not know this lady, and called for the nurse to remove her - you should've seen her face :) apparently my dimples gave it away though trying not to smirk! Poor mummy :) good job she loves me!

My recovery was crazy, as I had spent so much time preparing my body I was up on my feet that afternoon against nurses orders and took myself down to find some food in the main concourse with half a shaved head and a ten inch scar! Mum wouldn't let me see in a mirror for awhile but I liked looking at it - those were my battle scars 

We arranged to do Race for life a week later - I said of course il walk it, then legged it at the starting line and waited for mum at the end to catch up - I think she came in 20 minutes after me and looking like she ran her best ever time chasing me :) 

What they didn't prepare me for was the life altering personality changes, depression, anxiety and mental issues that followed, whilst my brain re-stabilised after a good inch and more was cut out the hormonal imbalances left me with crippling depression and my refusal to medicate meant 2 hard years of healing my self naturally with personal development and trying my best to love my life like I did before 

And where am I now? Thriving not just surviving! Me and mum went on to win the Inspirational Women of the Year awards followed by me winning Radio Norwich Local Hero Award for my charity work that followed 

This past year I won 3 Miss UK & other national titles and competed in international pageants, my business is flying, I qualified as a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist to help others get healthy as it is the cause biggest to my heart, and I use fitness every day to stay as strong as I can! People would never look at me and know I ever had cancer let alone I still suffer. 

And my results? Clear :) there is no tumour regrowth after a full resection, and it turned out to be a mix of Oligodendroglioma which is a slow growing tumour, and an Astrocytoma which is a aggressive cancer - I am grade 2 and fighting it. Genetically I had a gene they tested for which means my body will fight the growth, they wanted to start radiotherapy until I tested positive for this gene but its all new research so time will tell what this genetic influence will have on my tumour - I prey for more time. 

My other profusion scans to monitor blood flow in the area show slight raising but not to the point we must worry yet, if it continues to raise it will indicate the tumour is coming back :( and we will cross that bridge when we come for it - please support me in my fundraising to get more research so if that day comes me and the other patients have more of a hope of survival 

Did you know that as a brain tumour patient I got given a statistic of 13% chance survival rate. I'm glad I did not know this when I was told or I wouldn't have fought. A one of out ten survival rate for just 5 years is something no one should ever have to face. But I got 3 out of my 5 years so far and I will see 2 more - and many more, I am staying positive and strong and healthy. 

My questionable 2017 activities? :) Well March sees me taking part in a boxing match and I know what you are thinking - I must have some brains missing to be getting in the ring to get punched in the head but I have had it cleared, and I want to get in that ring and prove cancer never stopped me doing what I loved. An avid martial artist with many fights and medals under my belt, the sport is my passion and without passion in life it to me is not worth living. I want my friends to know I take every safety precaution going, I wear head gear (stupid as I look - hello Darth, I am not your father) and I fight within my limits I am not reckless and I have found more accidents and bumps happen outside the ring than within it! 

My London Marathon - something I have always wanted to do and this time I run for me, and for my beautiful nan Alice who died of stomach cancer. I hope to further my adventures for the charity by climbing Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp. As I'm kind of crazy like that :) I love a life where I am living, filled with adventure and adrenaline and not playing it safe! 

As when that day comes - that cancer comes back, is inevitable, I am not like you - my future is measured in 6 month MRI's forever cursed with it hanging over my head that this might be my last one, but equally blessed with it hanging over my head - that if this is my last run - it is going to be a good one! 

Please let my journey inspire you to chase your dreams, live every day with love, adventure, and possibility - that you are in charge of your destiny. 

Put your health first, learn to love your body enough to get fit and healthy, eat well, and never take it for granted if you have been blessed with a good one as some of us have not, and we fight every day for what you take for granted! 

Thank you for reading my story to raise awareness for this cause, I never thought ''Why me? What did I do to deserve this'' I thought ''Why me? Why has god given me this battle? Who can I help'' and I have proud to have reached thousands of people across the globe and shared my story with them. 

Please support my journey and help me raise money for this important cause

Love & light always

Kerri xxx