Two years ago, I was a patient at National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) after the discovery of a colloid-cyst in my brain.

I am running the 2026 London Marathon in aid of The National Brain Appeal to support the amazing work done at NHNN to help others in similar situations.

Following an increasing number of symptoms, which for a few years I had passed off as migraines - I was called to NHNN Queens square on 30th June 2023 following a CT scan.

I was diagnosed with a rare form of benign brain tumour, called a colloid cyst. I required urgent surgery to remove this as it posed significant risk to my health due to the size it had grown.

In little over a week, I was booked in for brain surgery which was successfully completed by the incredible team of specialist surgeons and I was on the road to recovery, cared for by the ward teams.

The care that I received was outstanding and the fast reactions following diagnosis has allowed me to return to a normal, happy life.

I’m incredibly grateful to the team at NHNN for looking after me - Please if you can spare a little change, your donation helps to drive the advancement of specialised hospitals like NHNN by funding pioneering research, innovative treatments and world-class facilities over and above what the NHS can provide.