A 23-year-old brain tumour survivor from Buckinghamshire is preparing to run her first marathon.
Flora Bouchier, from Thornborough near Buckingham, is currently training for her first marathon in Manchester in April to support Brain Tumour Research.
The Nottingham University graduate was diagnosed with brain tumour grade 1 glioneuronal as a 16-year-old in April 2016 after experiencing nausea, hot flushes and partial seizures.
After her surgery to remove the tumour, Flora was hit with post-operative depression with severe impact on her life.
Flora said: “After my diagnosis and surgery, I became very lethargic and didn’t do any exercise for a year. It was only when I went to university and started playing rugby that I got back into sport. Now I cycle, run, play tag rugby and five-a-side football, so I really enjoy being able to be active.”
“I was one of the lucky ones because my tumour was successfully removed and it was low grade, but I hadn’t realised the long-term impact it would have on me. It really affected my latter school years and my first couple of years at university.
“I was ringing up Samaritans every couple of days because I couldn’t stop crying and was distraught all the time.
“Luckily I managed to get over that and got a first in my degree, but for a few years I struggled with tiredness and my emotions in the aftermath of dealing with everything.”
Running became part of the chemical engineer Flora’s life when she moved to Manchester in 2022, and began training with her friend Beth Moore for the Manchester Marathon.
By taking on the 26.2 mile challenge in Manchester, said to be UK’s flattest marathon, Flora wants to prove that she can despite not having “the best breathing, which makes running hard.”
She added: “I’m lucky to be living a completely normal life now, not held back by my previous health issues, but I know I’m one of just a small number of people for whom that’s the case. If by raising awareness and funds I can avoid someone going through a similar situation to me or the many other brain tumour patients I read about, then that’s the goal.
“When it’s cold, wet and windy and I don’t want to go out running, I remember what I’m doing it for and that makes it easier.”
Brain Tumour Research’s community development manager Charlie Allsebrook said while brain tumours kills more children than leukaemia and any other cancer, historically only one percent of national spend on cancer research is allocated to brain tumour work.
Charlie said: "We’re determined to change this and are really grateful to Flora for taking on this challenge to help make that possible. We wish her the best of luck with her training and look forward to cheering her across the finish line on race day.”
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