When Sally Harley’s partner Bob was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas, the couple had to adapt to challenges and make changes to their lives. As Sally took on the 2026 TCS London Marathon to raise awareness of brain tumours, she didn’t expect it to ignite a greater passion for running. She shares what inspires her to keep going.
I met Bob at a Kayak club, and we have been together for 26 years. We haven’t had children; we have travelled and been on lots of adventures. Our lives have been full of fun. We’ve driven a car from the UK to the Gambia, we’ve travelled the world in six weeks visiting South Africa, India, Australia and America. In 2018 we took a Land Rover on an exciting road trip from Cape Town to Zambia via Namibia. We have enjoyed the freedom of visiting different countries.
Bob’s tumour diagnosis in 2024 came as a complete shock. He was admitted to hospital following a car accident and shortly after was told he had multiple low-grade meningiomas. Further tests led to a diagnosis of NF2 schwannomatosis, a rare genetic condition which causes multiple tumours to grow in the nervous system. Bob now faces lifelong monitoring through a ‘watch and wait’ approach, with regular MRI scans.
It’s been challenging but we have been practical. We accepted his diagnosis and kept focusing on what is best for Bob. We’ve had to think about what kind of care he will receive for the rest of his life and plan for this. We face it with positivity; it’s about putting things into place to make sure he has support. The neurosurgery team in Hull and NF2 team in Manchester are incredible. We can’t say enough about the neuro-oncology nurses, we know they are there for us, just on the other end of a phone call. It really helps to have support and genuine care. They have been there at the hardest of times and always willing to go the extra mile.
Bob faces daily challenges like fatigue and having to adapt to how he does things. Simple tasks take longer for him to complete now. Life is vastly different for him; he is not allowed to drive at the moment, but we are hoping this might change at some point in the future.
In January we discovered one tumour is still growing, so he’s scheduled for an MRI next month. We're coming up to the two-year anniversary of his tumour diagnosis. In the beginning he felt like he didn’t know what normal was as life changed so dramatically. We decided to ‘build a new normal’ to be able to face the challenges. We’re finding new ways to approach life. He’s nervous about going on a plane because of the impact on his ears but he doesn’t let things stop him. He still likes DIY and pottering about the house.
Bob had his own business but has had to retire because of the impact of the diagnosis and what his job required, including driving. Following his seizure in November 2024 he was unable to take our beloved dog Dane for a walk. This was devastating as Dane gives him a purpose. Now he’s back to walking Dane but can’t do long or isolated walks. Although he’s restricted to short walks, they make the most of it. Dane absolutely adores Bob; he is his hero.
Our saving grace is to deal with things with quiet and calm and positivity and humour. These four qualities get us through all the time. And it could be that they got me through the London Marathon! I decided to take on the challenge to mark my 50th birthday and to raise awareness of the impact of tumours. Bob is living with a disease he can’t escape; I had the opportunity to do something meaningful and bring attention to brain tumours. People often think that low-grade means fine, but for Bob life is more challenging now and more uncertain.
I joined the Brain Tumour Research marathon team and immediately liked the structure which the running coach Lee had put in place. He devised a plan so I knew how many runs I had a week and what distance to run, including what pace to run them at.
We live in a rural area where it’s very peaceful with beautiful scenery, including the Humber Bridge which the team got used to seeing weekly photos of. People in the area encouraged me when I was out running especially when they found out why I was training for the marathon. I enjoyed seeing my progression, getting fitter and stronger, getting past miles without stopping and achieving what I hadn’t thought possible.
I realised through training that there’s never a bad run, just runs you learn from. I began from the beginning, from point zero or ‘couch’ and built it up to my longest run of 20 miles. Going for runs in the countryside were moments to look forward to, it was also my time to reflect and process my thoughts.
Learning about the fuelling side of running has been up and down but I enjoyed what I learnt from it, and managed to get it right on day of the London Marathon. The London Marathon was amazing from start to finish. Meeting other Brain Tumour Research runners and getting to know people going through similar experiences meant a lot to me. Everyone was so kind and being in a close-knit team kept me motivated.
I took selfies with people on the Tube to Greenwich and loved the energy from the crowds; the atmosphere was electric. It was also emotional looking around at so many people with their own story and reason for running. I knew there would be tears, but I didn’t expect to be injured at mile 11, throwing my time out the window. I had to dig deep but I was determined to finish. I had a good cry at around mile 22; I was in so much pain, but I kept going, which I’m incredibly proud of.
I saw people stop and ask other runners if they are ok; ordinarily we are strangers but during the marathon we’re in it together to boost each other. At the Embankment I met a teammate and we stood in the middle of the road and hugged. We went around the corner past Big Ben and crossed the finish line together. It was amazing, a truly unforgettable moment. I still get teary thinking about it.
It was an incredibly special day, and I would do it all over again. I started this journey for Bob, but in the end, I discovered my own path. It’s set off a real determination in me to improve my running. I’ll be taking on the Edinburgh Half Marathon and Robin Hood Half Marathon over the next couple of months.
My advice to anyone thinking of taking on a challenge is: just go for it; you’ll receive so much support and encouragement, and it is a memory that stays with you forever.
Inspired by Sally? You can also help us raise awareness of the impacts of brain tumours and funds to help find a cure by taking part in one of our many challenge events.
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