A mum living with a brain tumour is set to pound the pavement next month to raise vital funds for charity.
During October, Leanne Walker, from Coylton, will be clocking up the miles around the village and Ayr seafront- with dog Roxi in tow- to coin in cash for The Brain Tumour Charity, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to fighting this devastating disease.
Leanne is part of a team of nine Ayrshire fundraisers who will individually be walking 25k during the charity’s Twilight Walk fundraiser challenge.
Leanne, 38, said: “I am really looking forward to taking part for such an important cause.
“Two years ago I had been suffering severe migraines- the doctors thought I had ligament damage in my neck.
“My dad was in hospital fighting bowel cancer at the time and I drove to see him. While my sister and mum were with me I nearly crashed the car.
Leanne lost sight in one eye and within 30 minutes her speech went slurry.
She said: “They rushed me to A&E and the doctor thought I had had a stroke.
“After a CT scan, I was given the devastating news that I had a large, left parietal occipital brain tumour, which was attached onto my brain stem and my optical nerve.
“Surgery was the only option but came with a big risk.
“I was told I could be left with tunnel vision and if they hit the brain stem I would bleed out instantly.”
The tumour attached to Leanne’s brain stem had to be left as it was too risky to remove it all.
She now receives yearly MRI scans to check if there is any regrowth, with her next one being next month.
Leanne’s team is aiming to raise £700 for the charity. You can donate here: https://www.thetwilightwalk.com/teams/leanne-walker
The Brain Tumour Charity fund pioneering research to increase survival and improve treatment options as well as raising awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours to bring about earlier diagnosis.
The charity also provides support for everyone affected so that they can live as full a life as possible.
The Twilight Walk is one of the charity’s most supported events which sees supporters across the country take on a walking challenge to raise money, awareness and celebrate loved ones.
Geraldine Pipping, The Charity’s Director of Fundraising, said: “We are extremely grateful for all the efforts made by our fantastic fundraisers and wish them all the very best for this October’s walks.
“We receive no government funding and rely 100 percent on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of people like Leanne and her team that we can change these shocking statistics in the future and bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year.”
•To get involved, sign up at: https://www.thetwilightwalk.com/ or for support and information, visit: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/
