On 29th September I will be taking on the Berlin Marathon for the Brain Tumour Charity. Like many people, I got into running during lockdown and went on to run in various charity events including the Great North Run in 2022 for the Brain Tumour Charity. I am pleased to be part of the Brain Tumour Charity team again, this time in Berlin for the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Marathon - while I’m nervous to run my first marathon, I also can’t wait!

So, why the Brain Tumour Charity? The Berlin marathon falls just days before my dad’s 60th birthday. When he was initially diagnosed with a brain tumour in January 2021, after emergency brain surgery in December 2020, at just 56, we weren’t sure he’d make it to 60. Around 1/3 of people with an an Anaplastic (cancerous) oligodendroglioma (Dad’s diagnosis) will survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis, and some tumours such as glioblastomas have much shorter life expectancies. I am relieved to say that after intense radiotherapy and 14 cycles of chemotherapy, dad’s tumour is currently stable, but this won’t always be the case and not everyone is as lucky. Beyond the treatment, this has not been without its challenges- brain tumours are often accompanied by personality changes, mood changes, tiredness, seizures, nausea, confusion, balance issues (to name a few). I am immensely proud of how much dad has battled on and my attempt to run a marathon will be nothing on his journey.

88,000 people in the UK are living with a brain tumour. And there is still no cure.

The Brain Tumour Charity do amazing work in research towards a cure as well as information and support for those impacted by brain tumours, including family and friends. They are the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Click on the link if you would like to find out more about the great work they do: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org

If you have any spare pennies I would be immensely grateful if you could please donate!

Bring on the training 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️