Blenheim Palace Triathlon 2024

I signed up to the challenge beginning two weeks after my 2nd crainotomy. I wanted an excuse to get up and get out, get back to fitness. I loved the walks I went on and the support from the group online was amazing. It was great to notice things in the neighbourhood I'd never noticed before. Being out side is definitely good for your mental health. Thanks for the opportunity.

MyFamily and I recently held our first fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research – a family rounders match. Around 30 of us took part in memory of my lovely Dad John Lilley who passed away in May this year from a #Glioblastoma. We are ‘John’s Crew’ and we had a great day in the sunshine with a very competitive game of rounders all for a good cause. We were really well supported by Brain Tumour Research’s community fundraising team and had lots of leaflets, banners and petition cards which we handed out to those we met during the day. We also proudly wore our bright pink charity T-shirts! Looking forward to organising and taking part in lots more fundraising activities.

I was diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma after my surgery, which I chose to be awake throughout. Our son was 7 at the time and our daughter was just 4. That was enough to make me have a positive mindset from day one. Very fortunately my amazing family and friends have been extremely supportive. So far we have raised several thousand pounds for Brain Tumour Research. I have done several things including collecting ‘tins’ in local businesses, cycling 272 miles in a month, joining the Scottish team at the Scottish Parliament to raise more awareness and the latest was supporting some lovely people on their fundraiser at an Absail in Aberdeen. I clearly can’t run or jump myself given my situation but I’m always here to help anyone else who needs it. We desperately need more funding through Brain Tumour Research for a cure. To me Brain Tumours in children is so sad and wrong - let’s get this done!

So to mark my Husbands 5th brainaversary I organised a ‘sing and Supper’ event. It brought together girl guiding friends, scout friends, choir friends and our friends and family for an evening of campfire songs and supper. I’m used to large scale catering so 60 jacket potatoes, beans, cheese and salad wasn’t daunting for me. I’m lucky to live on a farm so we had the space for everyone and I ask the local Network scouts to organise the car parking for me. I think the trick is to delegate as much as possible. Our youngest who is a cub leader organised the scouts and they also took turns to lead the singing. My guide friends helped me lead a few songs and I got my family up to demonstrate an action song. My choir leader lead a few also and it meant that no one was under too much pressure. That would be my advice. Share the load. And put a just giving on Facebook for those people who can’t come …. We made over £1800 in an afternoon.

I did the firewalk at York in memory of my Dad & Uncle who both passed away with GBM but 30 years apart. Also from the money I raised, the best thing was knowing if they both were still here how excited & proud they both would have been of me & that they would have been right behind me having a go themselves & causing absolute mayhem. They were real partners in crime.