Making every step count

Our thanks to our supporters who ran the Flora London Marathon for us in 2008 raising an amazing £25,500 - and counting! - to help people who have a brain tumour.

• David Atkins, St Albans, was inspired to run by his mother who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2005, and ‘through care and technology at the Royal Free is still alive today’. He’s on his way to raising £2,500. (Time: 3:59)


• Louise Baker, London, ran to raise awareness and funds after her sister suffered a brain tumour, which was initially misdiagnosed as a leg problem, the treatment of which has left her with a limp. Louise has raised over £900, including £500 donated by her employers, Fitch Ratings Ltd. (Time: 5:02)


• David Christie, Ascot, has run for us for the last five years and has raised over £25,000 for us in total. He runs in memory of a family friend, Michael Norton, who died of a brain tumour. This year he raised around £5,280.


• Richard Cooper ran in memory of his brother-in-law, Mark La Valette-Robins, who died of a brain tumour in 2001 when only 27 years’ old. Richard raised £1,250 for Mark’s tribute fund.


• Tim Eggett ran in memory of his brother-in-law, Dave Wilson, who died of a brain stem tumour in February 2008. Tim raised £261: ‘I would thoroughly recommend the event to anyone. Thank you and your team for all of your hard work in support of Brain Tumour UK, I am sure you played a part in helping Dave and his wife Jane deal with his brain tumour.’ (Time: 3:59 ‘… just behind Scooby Doo, a bottle of 'Feel Good' drink and a man wearing only a thong and a smile!’)


• Brian Elder, Ringwood, lost his sister-in-law and another family member in 2007 and feels that ‘brain tumour research is grossly under funded’. Brian raised £2,044 from sponsorship and a further £2,000 from the Somerset Vintage and Classic Tractor Group. (Time: 5:15)


• Chris Gardener, Witney, ran to support his wife, Ruth, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2007. Ruth has undergone an operation and radical chemotherapy: ‘We made quite a team … she was knackered due to the treatment and I was knackered due to training for the marathon’. Chris has raised over £4,270.


• Nicola Hunter, Rutland, ran ‘to raise money to fight this terrible disease’ in memory of her best friend Zoe who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June 2005. At the time Zoe had a one-year-old daughter and was pregnant with her second child. She received radiotherapy during pregnancy and had an emergency caesarian at 30 weeks, sadly to die in 2006 after a ‘brave and courageous battle’. Nicola raised £4,500. (Time: 5:31)


• Gillian Leccia of Nottinghamshire has raised £528, more to come. (Time: 4:34)


• Neville Rickard has entered a number of marathons this year to raise funds after his wife, Carmen, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Carmen has had surgery to remove the tumour. (Time: 3:10)


• James Robinson, London, ran in memory of a good friend, Chris, who he played football with in UMIST University. Chris lost his five-year battle with a brain tumour in 2006, aged only 26. ‘Your charity is obviously directly involved in not only raising money to fund research into brain tumours, but also in providing support and education for the friends and families of those affected by this awful illness. Therefore, I don’t think there could be a more fitting charity to raise money in Chris’ memory.’ James raised over £3,500. (Time: 3:07)


• Nicky White, London, lost his ten-year-old son, Liam, in January 2006 after a four-year fight with an agressive brain tumour (ependynoma). ‘We were all amazed by Liam’s courage and ability never to complain. He will always be loved, always be missed and will always be an inspiration.’ Nicky ran with Elmo, Liam’s favourite cuddly toy. He has collected more than £1,100 towards his target of £2,500.

 

Along with the London Marathon, we have super runners at other events:

• Bath Half Marathon: Rob Adams and Deb Tyler


• Belfast City Marathon: Brahm Gallagher and Peter Semple


• Blackpool Marathon: Shaun Windle


• BUPA Great Edinburgh Run: John O’Brien


• BUPA Great Manchester Run: Steven Cheetham


• Crouch End 10K and Children’s Fun Run: Kathy Hammond and daughter


• Edinburgh Half Marathon: Laura MacDonald


• Edinburgh Marathon: Andrew Hunter and Stefano Fillippini


• Newry City Marathon: Amanda Green, Kevin, Declan, Roisin, Bronagh and Michelle Sloan and Sheila McComisky


• Reading Half Marathon: John Waldner, Richard Carvalho, Alito Alvarez, David Curnow, Gary Davidge, Jacek Juskowiak, Romauld Gniba, Laura Oliver, Shez Shaikh, John Busk and Karen Pickford


• Resolution Asset Management Women’s 10K, Glasgow: Ingrid Sharp, Louise Anderson, Irena Cheney, Rachel Howe and Eva Evans

 

Cycling successes

• Peter Davison took a gruelling and somewhat meandering route between Land’s End and John O’Groats, raising awareness and over £10,400 for us. Read his story on our Patients’ Forum.


• Ken Marshall got on his bike to raise funds for research and took part in the three-day Coast to Coast Bike Ride in May. His wife was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour a few years’ ago, now successfully removed.


• Harry Tempest cycled with two friends from John O’Groats to Land’s End at the beginning of May and has so far raised a wonderful £8,400. Harry’s incredible effort, like that of Peter Davison, is all the more tremendous as both are surviving brain tumour patients.


• Natalie Wilson is riding 3,000 miles in the world’s toughest bike race – the Race Across America! Support her adventure at Justgiving

 

Walking the Talk

• Peter Buller went on a three-week ‘winding wobble to Walsingham’ to celebrate 25 years of living with a brain tumour. His full story is on our Patients’ Forum and you can read about his journey at walsinghamwobble.blogspot.com.


• Walk the Vale - 1,725 miles were walked on Easter Monday at the start of a 2008 challenge to ‘walk the world’! The Ed Evans Foundation organised the occasion which saw 220 eager walkers, and many eager dogs, setting off across cliff tops. More …

 

The mileage from these walks is being donated to the International Brain Tumour Alliance's Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours, the target for which is 120,000 kms or three times around the globe at the Equator. For more information about the World Walk and the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week (26 October to 1 November 2008), please see www.theibta.org or contact kathy@theibta.org