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As most of you know, 2009 was an extremely traumatic year for myself and my wife Edel. Thankfully this year has been a much happier one, I’ve regained my health and I’m back running the roads again!  I’m currently preparing to take part in a challenging running event at the end of August and, in advance of it, I’m aiming to raise as much money as I can for a very deserving cause - the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.  

Below are details of the event, the charity and, for those who don’t know me, a bit about myself.  I would be really grateful if you could aid my fundraising drive by firstly making a donation, and also by forwarding this email to as many people as you can - anyone who you think may be willing to make a donation.
Thank you very much,

David Gray

THE CHARITY

Every year in the UK, 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour and more people under 40 die of a brain tumour than from any other cancer.  Despite these statistics, brain tumour research is woefully under-funded and lags significantly behind other cancers.  

Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust is the leading adult and childhood brain tumour charity dedicated to scientific research and patient support in the UK. To date, the charity has spent £5m on innovative, world class research projects led by top UK and international scientists.

The charity’s aim is to raise awareness, significantly fund brain tumour research and to give support to brain tumour patients, their friends and family, and to give hope to brain tumour patients in the future. Further details at www.braintumourtrust.co.uk

ABOUT ME

In February 2009, two weeks before my 36th birthday, I collapsed in work and was taken by ambulance to Belfast City Hospital. The next day following an MRI scan I was given the devastating news that the scan revealed a significant tumour on the right side of my brain. To say this was a shock is obviously a huge understatement.  I had not experienced any of the symptoms associated with a brain tumour, and had led what I considered to be a fit and healthy lifestyle.  

After a few days I was moved to the neurology unit of Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital but after performing a biopsy the neurosurgeons at the Royal told me they considered the tumour to be inoperable - in their opinion the risk of causing brain damage during surgery was too high.

Despite this setback, I decided to get a second opinion and was referred to a surgeon at The Beacon Hospital in Dublin.  After examining my case, the surgeon told me that, in his opinion, surgery offered “no significant risk” and he agreed to operate on me.  In April 2009 after a major operation, my tumour was successfully removed.  In June I began a 6 week course of concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre. This was followed by 6 months of chemotherapy, the last dose of which I received in January this year. To our enormous relief, a scan at the end of January was completely clear and showed no sign of disease.

THE EVENT
The 26th annual Warrior’s Run takes place on 28th August 2010 in Strandhill, Co.Sligo.  It’s a gruelling 15km run from the beachfront in Strandhill to the top of Knocknarea mountain, around Queen Maeve’s Cairn and back to the beachfront again. The race is classified as a road and hill race or multi-terrained - nine of its kilometres are on paved roads, but six kilometres in the middle include a 700 foot climb through fields and along loose gravel and heather paths.  I have competed in the race several times in the past and always find it a huge challenge but great fun too! Further details are at www.warriorsfestival.com

So please dig deep and donate now. Thank you very much.