Brain tumour patient walks for a cure one year on from diagnosis
A year on from her brain tumour diagnosis, a Plymouth resident and her dog are walking 150 miles to raise awareness and funds for research into the disease.
Victoria Bradley and her pet dog, Luna, have embarked on the 150-mile walking challenge for the Brain Tumour Research charity after learning how poorly funded research into brain tumours is.
In June 2017, the otherwise healthy mum-of-two was on the phone to her friend when her speech began to slur and she became incoherent. Victoria was rushed to Derriford Hospital where a CT scan revealed an abnormality in her brain and a further MRI scan confirmed the 47-year-old had a grade 1 meningioma. Victoria underwent surgery in July and the majority of the tumour was successfully removed, however, the 47-year-old is still suffering from regular seizures and is unable to fulfil her ambition of working as a self-employed hypnotherapist and meditation instructor.
Victoria said: “I’m walking from 3rd June, the date I was diagnosed, to 2nd July, my 48th birthday which I feared I wouldn’t reach. My life turned upside down this time last year but now I want to move on from my own ordeal and help find a cure. Due to my continuing seizures, I can’t walk alone but I’m lucky enough to have a group of friends and my grandchildren who walk with me.
“It’s astounding that so many people are affected by brain tumours but so little is known about them and such little funding is allocated to research. I’m doing this walk, not just for
my own closure, but to prevent more people suffering in the future.”
Victoria and Jack Russell Luna are racking up the miles in Plympton, Plymouth Hoe, the Barbican and at the National Trust’s Saltram. The city is home to one of the charity’s research Centres of Excellence, where a world-class medical team is specialising on research into low-grade tumours similar to Victoria’s. The vital research taking place here is promoted by the special Plymouth City Bus which also inspired Victoria’s challenge. She added: “I first came across Brain Tumour Research after seeing the colourful bus around the city. Such incredible work is taking place right on my doorstep and I want to contribute in whatever way I can.”
Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.
Emma Cronin, Community Fundraising Manager at the Brain Tumour Research charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to Victoria for helping us to raise awareness and funds for research into this devastating disease. The money raised will help us in our mission to build a network of experts in sustainable research. We are funding dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.”
To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/victoria-bradley5
