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My
name is Lisa Connell, I am 31 years old and from North London. I have
recently been diagnosed with a Brain Tumour.
I
was first diagnosed in August 2006 after suffering with my balance and
vision. I was sent by my optician to Moorfield’s Eye Hospital where I
was given an MRI scan a few weeks later.
My
MRI Scan showed that I had a Benign Meningioma growing in the centre of
my brain.
Due
to its location I was told that tumour was in-operable and they were unsure
that any treatment would be able to safely remove it. I was also told
they did not know how long I would have to live. It could be years, it
could be months.
(A
MENINGIOMA is a Tumour that grows from the meninges (dural covering of
the brain). These can occur in many different brain locations and can
cause all sorts of symptoms depending on the size of the tumour and its
location. Most Meningioma’s are benign tumours (Non-Cancerous) although
some can be more aggressive and malignant (Cancerous). Surgical resection
can be curable for some patients while others may be best treated with
irradiation approaches. In some patients both open surgery and radiation
may be required and in others there are no treatments or operations that
will cure it (this is normally determined by its location.)
Following
my diagnosis I then had several more opinions from top surgeons all around
the country, all of which came up with the same conclusion.
During
the months of February to December 2006, I gradually deteriorated. My
walking became impaired; I was unable to move from my home without supervision,
I was experiencing double vision and decreased depth perception which
resulted in frequent falls and injuries. I also suffered with server head
aches due to the pressure being generated on my brain. My level of energy
was somewhat low giving symptoms of fatigue, my memory also suffered.
I
was told that I may never walk properly again, or recover. The National
Health’s advice to me was to relax, take it easy and to avoid stress!
I found this advice completely unhelpful and difficult to take in. It
left me feeling even worse!
In
October 2006 I was introduced to a friend of my father Mr Tony Blake.
Tony changed my life for the better. It was Tony who made me analyse my
circumstances and actually get up and do something about it.
Tony
was diagnosed 10 years prior with having a Benign Meningioma and also
suffered from the same symptoms. Tony, like me is a very strong and determined
character and through exercise and healthy eating he manages the symptoms
of his brain tumour and is now leading a normal life.
Tony’s
advice to me was not to sit back and let the tumour take over as the National
Health advised. In fact it was to do the total opposite, eat well and
get fit. Seeing Tony that day lifted my spirit greatly. He appeared to
live a normal life even though he still lives with a Brain Tumour.
With
this advice my father gave me a membership to David Lloyd. I attended
the gym five times a week working very closely with one of the fitness
instructors, Andreas Kyriakou. Andreas donated his time to me to help
me on the path to recovery. We worked together on balance exercises along
with co-ordination skills and muscle strengthening. Within one month I
was back on my feet again!
Having
spent all this time in my gym I started training for a 10k run. In July
2007 I ran in the Great British 10k London Run and passed the finish line
in 1 hour 15 minutes raising just over £3,000.00 for the charity. Considering
I was told I would never walk properly again this had to be one of my
biggest achievements, that was down to two men; Tony Blake & Andreas
Kyriakou, I can not thank either of you enough, so thank you!
Since
the race I have been making it my personal goal to create awareness of
Brain Cancer. I have been working very closely with many brain cancer
charities in helping to raise both awareness and funds for the cause and
I will continue to do so for as long as I shall live.
That
is where Rent A Date For Charity Limited came in. I had an idea which
stemmed from my www.MySpace.com
account I put myself and my cousin Luke on the site and offered people
a chance to win a date with us. The rules stated that the person who donated
the most amount of money onto the justgiving within that week won the
date.
The
idea soon became common knowledge with a little push from my end. Hence
the launch of my new site.
The
site is a unique initiative designed specifically to put the Fun
back into FUNdraising! Although we are not a charity
Rent A Date For Charity is a non-profit organisation with a sole objective
to support and encourage children and young adults up to the age of 21
with serious or life threatening illnesses to raise the awareness of their
condition through fundraising activities and to work together creating
a fundraising community.
We
enlist the help of celebrities to place them up for auction as a meet
and greet which in turn helps boost the awareness and funds for all the
charities and individual causes we help.
For
more information see Rent
A Date For Charity
