The Brain Tumour Charity provides a much needed lifeline to those diagnosed with brain tumors and their families. Not only do they provide first rate information they fund vital research. Any donations gratefully received, thank you.

Join us for a 3km walk around the Eden Project on Monday, March 10th and help us support The Brain Tumour Charity! There's a few ways to get involved...

You can sponsor our walk here with a donation directly to the charity. If you also want to take part in the walk, you'll need to sign up through our booking page here.

https://events.more-human.co.uk/event/1732197196034x662773780403454000

We would love for you to join our team (the more the merrier!) to help us fundraise for this vital charity, you can do this by creating your own JustGiving page by clicking on 'join fundraisers' above and getting sponsored for this walk. Alternatively, we kindly ask you to make a donation to Ellen and Diane's page.

During the walk, we’ll explore the Eden Project’s outdoor gardens, Mediterranean biome and exhibition spaces. This route has some hills and mixed terrain, and whilst there'll be opportunities to stop along the way for rest breaks, please make sure you are comfortable walking 3km before signing up.

Why are we walking?

DIANE'S STORY :.....

My name is Diane Smith and I’m 59 years young. I have a brain tumour which was operated on in June ‘21, and then the remaining 20% which is inoperable was treated with 30 sessions of radical radiotherapy.

As a result of both of these treatments I have brain injuries and had to retire from my demanding job as a clinical nurse specialist in child and adolescents mental health.

I’ve had to make major life adjustments which have been tough especially as I was a very active person.

I’ve rediscovered a love of being creative, painting friendship rocks, watercolour painting and teaching myself new techniques such as zen tangling. I shall be leaving some 'Twilight Walk rocks' around the walk to help raise awareness of brain tumours and support available. Below is an example of one of my 'twilight walk rocks'.

I have a tendency to isolate myself which can be a lonely place indeed however in 2023 I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and joined a Twilight Walk where I met Ellen and we have become good friends agreeing we both wanted to host our own walk. This is how Team Two Brains, One Aim was formed.

The aim is to complete a 3 km around The Eden Project.

With “long term side effects” of radiotherapy now presenting with worsening balance I know that this will be a big ask of my body however I am determined to give it my best effort, and achieve what I can. It may not be possible for me to walk the full 3 km but I’d like to thank you for any way you can support me/us on this fund raising pathway

ELLEN'S STORY :....

My name is Ellen Yates and I am 67 years of age.

In April 2015 I was diagnosed with a Grade 1 brain tumour - Acoustic Neuroma. Next year will be my 10 year MRI scan. So far, thankfully, I have not had to receive any treatment although I do have regular MRI scans to keep on an eye on it, but so far it has remained stable. But it has been life changing all the same, and I now use a stick to aid with my walking due to balance issues, I am single sided deaf and use a hearing aid (although I cannot use it all the time as I get ear infections). I suffer from time to time with anxiety and depression.

Like Diane, I too have had to make major life adjustments which have been tough especially as I was a very active person

I was taught to crochet as a young child and after I got over the shock of my BT diagnosis I soon discovered that other people seemed to like my various crocheted items and so for a few years I have used this 'talent' to not only 'zone out' but also to try and raise funds for charity and awareness of brain tumours of all kinds (there are 120 different types of brain tumours ranging from Grade 1 - Grade 4).

I have my own closed group on FB from which I promote my various crochet items. https://www.facebook.com/groups/950547645286203

Once Diane and I had decided to host our own Twilight Walk, I created and crocheted Twilight The Owl, to help raise awareness of brain tumours and the support available. Twilight The Owl is on sale in The Brain Tumour Charity online shop.

https://shop.thebraintumourcharity.org/product/twilight-the-owl-crochet-plush-toy/

I also run a FB group, which I set up for anyone living in the South West of the UK affected directly or indirectly by a brain tumour. It is a 'closed' group - helping to make it a safe place to ask questions, share feelings, emotions and experiences. Essentially it’s a place for friendship and support. https://www.facebook.com/groups/348079219217822

All the fund raising I have done since September 2021 is in memory of my best friend Dawn Rogers Parkyn who sadly lost a very short 7 month battle to a Grade 4 GBM brain tumour, which was inoperable. Dawn and I had been best friends since we were 4 years old and I miss her terribly.

(I took this photo of Dawn in 2017 - as she was living Florida, USA by then, it would be the last time we would physically be together - although we stayed in regular contact via face time chats).

I am excited to be joined by Diane for our own Twilight Walk on Monday 10th March 2025. We are both thrilled to have The Brain Tumour Charity and The Eden Project onboard with us

We both hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us by joining our 'Two Brains, One Aim' team and that you will help us by raising your own funds in the process.

Walk it your way!

What better way to mark Brain Tumour Awareness Month – and raise much needed funds and awareness of brain tumours – than by walking The Twilight Walk your way in March 2025?

Unite with loved ones and take on your own walk somewhere special to you. You can stride out any time during March to make up the distance to your chosen goal