A young woman who survived a brain tumour is preparing to run a marathon to help find a cure for the disease.
Flora Bouchier is taking on the Manchester Marathon on Sunday 16th April. She’s doing it to raise vital funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Research after her own experience of being diagnosed with the disease as a teenager.
Flora was diagnosed with a grade 1 glioneuronal in April 2016, at the age of 16. The tumour was removed, but Flora suffered with post-operative depression which had a severe impact on her life.
After obtaining her master’s degree, in 2022, Flora moved to Manchester, where she has been training with her friend, Beth Moore (pictured right, with Flora), who will also be taking part in the 26.2-mile race.
She said: “I want to do it to prove that I can, but it’s going to be a massive challenge because I don’t have the best breathing, which makes running hard. I’ve been training for about two months now and the furthest I’ve run is a half-marathon, so I’m halfway there.”
Flora has already raised more than £300 toward her target of £500. You can support her fundraising efforts via her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/flora-bouchier
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.”
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