A brave mum who has been battling a brain tumour for 11 years and was once told she only had days to live is spearheading a bid to raise vital cash into research through the Bridgnorth Journal Sponsored Walk.
Lianne Veal, 34, of Sydney Cottage Drive, Bridgnorth, will be cheering on her husband Luke, 32 – a retained firefighter with the town’s service – at the annual event on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, May 31.
Luke will be stepping out to raise money for Brain Tumour UK and is hoping that other members of the family and friends will be taking part, along with other interested walkers.
Lianne has undergone two operations at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, in 1999 and 2008, to curb the growth of the tumour.
“My first operation was when I was pregnant with my first child, Jae, who is now aged 10,” she explained. “I have to return to the hospital every six months to have MRI imaging scans.
“I was once told I only had days to live,” added Lianne, who has been given a “low grade” life expectancy with no specific timescale.
She is full of praise for the support of the NHS and surgeon Professor Garth Cruikshank, who performed both operations.
“They have performed two miracles in keeping me alive and with the birth,” said Lianne, who also has a six-year-old daughter Paige.
Lianne is a fully qualified nursery nurse, but has been unable to work because of the brain tumour as she needs to sleep a lot during the day. Luke said it would be his second walk, having completed the 22-mile marathon trek for the first time last year in aid of Asthma UK, to support his firefighting colleague Ashley Brown’s charity in memory of Ashley’s son Cameron.
“The NHS and the hospital team have done a tremendous amount to help Lianne and I decided it was time I did something,” said Luke.
Anyone who is interested in walking in Lianne’s team is invited to contact her on (01746) 762869 or email lianneveal@yahoo.com