On Sunday 31st May, I will be running the Manchester Half Marathon to raise essential funds for The Skull Base Foundation.

As someone who grew up hating running with an absolute passion, no-one is more surprised than I that this is happening!

I set myself this challenge as a way of showing my gratitude to The Skull Base Foundation and staff at Salford Royal for the outstanding level of care I received after being diagnosed with a rare non-cancerous brain tumour in 2017. It is thanks to their expertise and support that I am physically and mentally fit enough to be taking on this challenge. If you can, please donate to enable them to continue this crucial, life-changing work.

The Charity

The Skull Base Foundation is a collaboration between Manchester Skull Base Unit, Frances Barbara Thornley Trust and the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre. It aims to support development in the care of patients with skull base disease through the education of surgeons and clinical and basic science research. The Manchester Skull Base Unit is the largest skull base unit in the UK dealing with over 500 new skull base tumour referrals a year, 200 of which are new vestibular schwannomas.

My Story

In 2017, at 27 years old, I was very unexpectedly diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma (also known as an acoustic neuroma), a rare non-cancerous brain tumour. Only 8% of all brain tumour discovered each year are vestibular schwannomas and they are most commonly diagnosed in 60 - 70 year olds.

After a lot of MRI scans and a number of anxious years of ‘watch and wait’, it was decided that the tumour was getting too big and I needed surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, this coincided with the COVID 19 pandemic. In July 2021, I went in for my 11 hour brain surgery knowing I would not be allowed any visitors until I was released from hospital and that the surgery would leave me with permanent single sided deafness and the loss of one balance nerve.

Thanks to the amazing team at Salford Royal, my surgery was a success and 99% of the tumour was removed, however there were complications. The tumour was stuck to my facial nerve therefore when I woke up the entire left side of my face was paralysed. There was no way of knowing if my facial nerve would ever recover or if I would be left with permanent facial palsy. Trying to recover physically from the operation whilst adapting to my new face and hearing loss, all without being able to hug my loved ones or even see them in person, was one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced.

Unfortunately, once I got home, I faced another setback as it was discovered I had a brain fluid leak. This required another operation involving completely sewing up my left ear. After my second operation, I was told I had been exposed to Covid at some point and put in isolation for the duration of my stay. My anxiety sky rocketed and this hospital stay was undoubtedly tougher than the first.

Luckily, I have the most incredible support network in the world and access to the amazing NHS so now, 5 years later, I can safely say I have recovered better than I ever thought possible. Running a half marathon is a celebration of all the amazing things my body can do and a way to give back to show my gratitude to The Skull Base Foundation while helping as many people as possible achieve the same positive outcome that I had.