Ruth is completing this challenge in memory of her mum, Bron who sadly passed away age 58 in March 2021, 2 years after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour.

Bron was a nurse and had been for over 30 years, she had just decided to semi retire to start to enjoy life when she ended up in hospital after having a seizure.

She had scans which detected a brain tumour. She required surgery to remove the tumour which bravely she underwent awake so they could remove as much as possible. The surgery lasted about 8 hours, I recall her saying how traumatic it was because she could hear drilling.

The outcome was positive and they removed 98% of it. She underwent chemo & radiotherapy which was difficult as she found the radiotherapy traumatic and the chemo made her feel poorly, eventually she started to loose her hair.

Eventually she was given the “all clear” however months later had another seizure and the tumour had returned, aggressively. She was frightened but determined to do everything she could to survive so she underwent another surgery, this time the surgery and the tumour had damaged the speech part of her brain, she struggled talking and had to do speech therapy.

A couple of Months later she was told there was nothing that could be done, the tumour was too aggressive that she would not survive.

She had a huge seizure on NYE which left her unconscious for days, when she woke she could no longer walk, she had lost the use of one of her arms and her speech had gone worse.

She died 3 months later with her family around her.

Overall Bron underwent 2 brain surgery’s, one of which awake, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hundreds of hospital appointments & scans, she lost her hair, she had to learn to talk and write again. She lost her driving licence due to the seizures, she had to leave work and couldn’t be left alone. She had numerous seizures which gradually got worse. She had to have steroids which caused her to swell and gain weight. She struggled to sleep as she was frightened, she had days where she was so low and sad. The worst part was she had to try and deal with the fact she would die soon and she was scared.

No one deserves what she went through and equally no family deserve to watch their loved one go through what she did, together we hope your donations will make a difference so other people don’t have to go through what my lovely mum did.

Bron would be proud to know that although she’s not here, she’s still helping others with her story.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we're moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40

Over 12,000 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour, including 500 children and young people – that’s 33 people every day

Over 5,300 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year

At least 88,000 children and adults are estimated to be living with a brain tumour in the UK currently

Brain tumours reduce life expectancy by on average 27 years – the highest of any cancer

Just 12% of adults survive for five years after diagnosis

Research offers the only real hope of dramatic improvements in the management and treatment of brain tumours. Over £700m is spent on cancer research in the UK every year, yet less than 3% is spent on brain tumours

We're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And we're doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can't wait.