A brain tumour patient who has only ever “run for a bus” is preparing for a 10k to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Elisa Wales will take part in the Battersea Park 10k run on Saturday 1st April. It’s inspired by her own diagnosis with a glioblastoma (GBM) in December 2019.
Elisa’s tumour was discovered after she started suffering from seizures when her daughter was just eight weeks old. She had surgery 10 days later, followed by six weeks of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by a further 12 months of chemo.
She said: “I kept fit through classes before I had my daughter, but chemo, COVID and exercise don’t really mix. Over New Year I decided I wanted to have a goal to aim towards to improve my fitness and my husband encouraged me to sign up for a 10K.”
Incredibly, Elisa, pictured with her last dose of chemotherapy (left) and in training (right), has already raised more than £7,200 and says she’s “excited about finishing and getting a 10K under my belt.”
She added: “Brain cancer wasn’t something I was aware of previously. I got regular cervical smears and mole checks, and I’ve had friends and family with breast cancer, but I didn’t realise brain tumours could be cancerous.
“Treatments for brain tumours are brutal and the statistics surrounding them are terrifying, which is why greater investment in research is vital. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to disease.”
To support Elisa’s fundraising, please donate via her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/elisa10k
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