Running 10 miles daily in 2024 + 2025 London Marathon 🤯

Welcome to my JustGiving page for The Brain Tumour Charity. 🗯 Proudly your regional finalist for ITV Pride of Britain awards 2024. If you are currently at The Horse & Groom or looking at the wonderful Christmas lights at Hillside Bittaford thank you for scanning the QR code. If you don't know me let me introduce myself. I'm Dawn Landlady and Chefette of The Horse & Groom. Im normally locked away in my little kitchen let out occasionally by my husband Olly for good behaviour.

2024 marks ten years since My Dad, passed of a glioblastoma multiforme Brain Tumour. If you're an 'old' regular of The Horse & Groom you might remember my dad Landlord Jim. He wasn't just my dad he was my comedy sidekick and buisness partner. With your help I want to make 2024 a justgiving year by running my legs off in his memory, while celebrating 10 years of fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity.

I am also running in the memory of my best friend Hazel who I miss everyday, My Granddad, my dear little cousin Andrew. plus my Great-granddad an uncle both sadly I never got to meet The all had brain tumours. Im also holding my dear friend Daisy close to my heart while running she lost her cancer battle at the age of 30

I started 2024 with running 10 MILES FOR 100 CONSERVATIVE DAYS . I completed this on the 9th of April but decided not to stop. So I announced I would keep RUNNING a crazy 10 miles daily for The rest of the year.

22nd November The Brain Tumour Charity called and asked if I would run The London Marathon for them in 2025 so of course I said YES. 2025 will mark 5 years since my best friend Hazel lost her Brain Tumour fight so in a way it's the perfect year to take part.

At least 34 people are diagnosed every day with a brain tumour in the UK, which has the lowest survival rate of all cancers. Misdiagnosis is more common than you would think. My dad had several misdiagnosis. Eight months had been lost by putting him into a Neuro-Rehab Unit with the wrong diagnosis of encephalitis. This meant that when a biopsy was finally done and a glioblastoma was diagnosed, it left no time for treatment or any operation. My dad literally went from being himself to suddenly having multiple seizures and never being himself again the hardest part was him not recognising me anymore. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. Over £700m is spent on cancer research in the UK every year, yet less than 3% is spent on brain tumours. I have grey spots on my brain myself which recently have increased so raising funds especially for research has added personal meaning for me. Brain Tumours can be heredity, but unlike other cancers having a history of Brain Tumours in your family does not speed up getting appointments to get those much needed early diagnosis.

"Remember me when I'm gone and I'll always be here"

My personal challenge..

I was born with curvature of the spine which didn't really cause me any difficulties until my late teens . Diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis at 22 daily life is challenging. Originally told by specialists I would be in a wheelchair by the age of 40 and to rest when in pain. It took years to find out myself that resting makes pain worse. I've had two spinal operations and I used to walk with the aid of a stick. It wasn't until I had a second TIA (mini stroke) that I decided to ditch prescription Opioids and use exercise as my main source of pain relief, I was simply fed up with the druged up feeling. Although I do still have my weekly injection Etanercept injection which is what keeps me moving. In 2022, age 46, I added a bit of light jogging along with strength training, proving you're never too old to improve your life. Sadly a hospital appointment in June 2024 discovered I've developed osteoarthritis , trochanteric bursitis, Fibromyalgia and I will need more surgery. My nerve tremours have increased so more investigation needed regarding small vessel disease of the Brain and I have just started Eptinezumab treatment to hopefully help with the head pain . But I promise I will keep going as even though I suffer a lot with different issues and daily chronic pain I think of those that have it far worse. While my conditions may effect my life they will not end my life, something thousands of others have to think about daily .

I hope I can encourage others that you can achieve what you think is your impossible it just takes a little bit of believing in yourself and being stubborn definitely helps.

Much love & hugs to all as we all have personal battles we're fighting.

Thankyou for reading and if you're able to please donate 🤗 or just share my page 🙏

I'm also raising awareness for Nass_exercise. 'Being able to move is a privilege'. They will help you to get back moving and to keep your independence.