By Frankie Barron
A ‘HEART-breaking disease’ has motivated a family to take part in a sponsored walk.
Sharon Weaver, 65, from Wareham was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2014.
Her diagnosis inspired her daughter Charlotte Turner to participate in the ‘Walk of Hope’ on September 28.
The seven-mile-long charity walk, in Bristol, is organised by Brain Tumour Research, a charity who are dedicated to raising funds for research into the disease.
Ms Weaver was diagnosed with a severe case of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and is one of the 20 per cent of brain tumour patients to survive five years later.
Ms Weaver’s diagnosis came ‘out of the blue’ as she did not show any symptoms until she collapsed while visiting her parents in Salisbury, she was then induced in a coma for two days before being diagnosed.
Charlotte said: “Mum was so brave throughout her treatment and had an awake craniotomy to debulk the tumour.”
Ms Weaver also undertook “six weeks of radiotherapy and six months of chemotherapy” to stabilise her tumour.
She added: “Mentally, Mum finds her routine scans very stressful and it’s hard to see her upset about her illness. Her mobility has reduced but she is stoic and refuses to use a wheelchair. She has left-sided weakness and has recently started a course of physiotherapy. It’s a heart-breaking disease and as a family we know how cruel brain tumours can be.”
Charlotte, from Bristol, has set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Research charity and said she is “grateful to everyone who has donated.”
Melanie Tiley, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research in the South West said: “The walk promises to be a fantastic day out for the whole family and offers the unique opportunity for people to share their experiences with the disease.”
Brain tumours are indiscriminate, and cancer affects anyone at any age.
Historically just 1% of the national spend of cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease, according to Brain Tumour Research.
The charity is calling for an annual spend of £35 million in hopes to invest in more research and new treatments.
To donate to Charlotte’s JustGiving page go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Charlotte-Turner38
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