On 12 December, a year to the day after Anabelle Hill underwent life-saving brain surgery, she and her family celebrated with some festive fundraising. As well as Bramble the pony, Anabelle was accompanied by her mum Jodi Colston, brother Alfie, 13, and dad Tom Hill as she completed a 5km sponsored walk.
Putting on their Christmas jumpers and Santa hats, Anabelle and her mum were interviewed on BBC South West Spotlight, with Bramble making an appearance in her reindeer antlers. Jodi also spoke to BBC Radio Cornwall about why she was fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, alongside our Head of Stakeholder Relations, Hugh Adams.
Anabelle was diagnosed with a low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma last year after experiencing eye pain and headaches. The 5cm tumour, which was in her cerebellum, was starting to push on her brain stem. Anabelle underwent a 12-hour craniotomy to remove the tumour and thankfully she is doing well.
Jodi said: “We are so lucky to still have our daughter with us and now fighting fit, although she is registered as partially-sighted as she can’t read average-sized text or text on certain background colours. We know only too well that this is not the happy outcome for so many brain tumour patients.”
If you would like to support Anabelle’s amazing Santa Dash, please visit the family’s Facebook fundraiser.
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