A Surrey woman is commemorating more than a decade of progress since she temporarily lost the ability to walk due to a brain tumour diagnosis.
Lauren Papadopoulos Green, 29, is halfway through her 10,000 Steps a Day in February challenge, in which people commit to completing 10,000 steps every day for a month, in aid of Brain Tumour Research. Having lost movement in her limbs at the age of 18 (below left), when she was diagnosed with a schwannoma, it has now been 12 years since Lauren was given a 5% chance of survival.
Following the discovery of regrowth in April 2023, Lauren now experiences myoclonic seizures, which cause involuntary muscle twitches.
In a month of milestones, Lauren, who turns 30 on 23ʳᵈ February, said: “There was a time I never thought I’d be able to walk again. So, to be walking for around two hours every day as part of the challenge feels like a great way to commemorate how my brain tumour journey began.”
Lauren turned to video-sharing platform TikTok to share her brain tumour journey, and has raised more than £1,300 for Brain Tumour Research so far. Her fundraising story has even been featured on BBC News.
Despite a broken ankle, Lauren took part in Skip 10 Minutes a Day in November in 2023 with the help of family and friends – and in September 2024 she took part in Walk of Hope.
She said: “I want to be a person who can support 18-year-old Lauren, who had no idea what being diagnosed with a brain tumour meant. It’s only now that I feel able to get on with my life, and I’ll continue to share my own experience and be a voice for the brain tumour community.”
You can donate to us via Lauren's JustGiving page, and help her become that voice with us.
As those taking part in 10,000 Steps a Day in February continue to inspire and amaze us, why not take on a challenge, too? There are plenty of ways to get involved and fundraise for Brain Tumour Research.
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Published Monday 17ᵗʰ February 2025.