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National brain tumour research funding needs to increase to £35 million a year
Twin brother of Olympic cyclist inspires widow’s Walk of Hope
The
widow of the twin brother of Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton is stepping
forward for our Walk of
Hope.
Alex Pendleton – brother to the former
track cyclist and Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion – was
diagnosed with a brain tumour, later identified as a glioblastoma
(GBM), in March 2021.
He
had a biopsy, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, before spending 17
months on various chemo drugs. Despite this, Alex developed a second brain
tumour. Sadly, his treatment came to an end after a critically low platelet count
prevented him, despite a transfusion, from continuing with chemotherapy.
Alex
died in a hospice in June 2023, four days after his wife, Sarah’s, 33rd
birthday and just seven days before the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary.
Sarah,
pictured on her wedding day with Alex and his two sisters, Nicola and Victoria,
said: “I’m still in disbelief, and so sad. It’s been a really difficult
journey and knowing how common it is and how the treatment for it hasn’t
changed in decades makes it all the more awful.”
On
Saturday 30th September, Sarah and her younger sister, Gemma Fox,
will join hundreds of other supporters at our Walk of
Hope around Wardown Park in Luton.
She said: “I’m looking forward to the walk and think it’ll be good for me to
meet others who have been through, or are going through, what I have.
Sarah
added: “It’s only when someone you love is affected by this disease you
realise how common it is, which is why I feel it’s so important to support
Brain Tumour Research and do what I can to help find a cure.”
To
support Sarah’s fundraising, please donate via her JustGiving
page.
You
can join our Walk of Hope in Luton by registering here or find a Walk of Hope event near you here. If our events aren’t convenient for you, you can still
get involved by planning your own Walk of Hope, wherever you are and whenever
you can – find out more here.
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reading:
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