My year of raising awareness

Rebecca John, 38, from Gloucester, is taking on an incredible challenge of completing a half marathon every month in 2026, in honour of her brother and close friend who have both been diagnosed with brain tumours. She shares what motivates her to keep running and why she’s determined to raise awareness of this devastating disease. 

I’ve always had a close relationship with my brother Rich, spending time at each other's houses, going to the theatre together, walking, nights out and enjoying being with our family.  

I had no words when he first told me about his brain tumour diagnosis in 2023, I was just so shocked. Then I became upset and worried about how he was feeling, how he’d get through this and how his children and wife would cope. I kept thinking about the future and what would happen to him. Immediately after being diagnosed with a meningioma, Rich underwent surgery to have the tumour removed. He recovered quite well without major complications and is slowly getting his fitness back. But it was an extremely stressful and worrying time for the whole family.  

Just two years later, I received the terrible news that my good friend Laura was diagnosed with the same type of tumour. I was in total disbelief that I’d gone from not knowing anyone with a brain tumour to suddenly having two of the closest people in my life diagnosed within two years. I was shocked but had been through so much with Rich so this time I felt more hopeful about Laura’s treatment options. 

After meeting Laura in secondary school, we remained great friends, getting together for lunch, going out shopping and walking our dogs. We’ve always been there for each other, and I knew she needed support from someone who truly understood what she was going through. Being so close, I often spoke to her about Rich’s experience and his recovery. I encouraged her to talk to him so he could share his knowledge of the ups and downs, his personal insights of medical procedures and answer the tough questions which she undoubtably had. 

While Rich was able to have surgery as soon as he was diagnosed, Laura has had to wait several months for scan results and is still undergoing tests every six months. The uncertainty and lack of urgency is frustrating. I am concerned about her health and what the future holds but also know that treatment is possible, and this drives me to raise awareness. 

At the beginning of 2025, I wanted to get back into running and push myself over 10km. In the past I had completed Couch to 5k and kept thinking about running further. I decided to set myself a challenge of taking on a half marathon every month in 2026. It was important to me to be able to share Rich and Laura’s stories, to bring hope to so many other people impacted by brain tumours. 

It hasn’t been easy. Being outdoors during winter with shorter days and darker skies is tough. I’ve had to juggle work, being a mum and walking the dog, while making time for running. I had an injury at the start of the year but kept pushing myself and didn’t it let stop me from achieving my ambition. Focusing on the reasons for taking on this challenge keeps me going. 

No matter how I feel, I remind myself that I’m doing it for Rich and Laura, and all the other patients and their families going through similar situations. Their experiences can help bring attention to the fact that brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer death in people under 40.  I don’t put pressure on myself, it's not about speed or time, it’s about creating more awareness and raising money for a compelling cause. People around me have been surprised but also particularly proud of me. When I face exhaustion and difficult moments, I reflect on everything my brother went through – it's puts everything into perspective – that my struggles are nothing compared to his brain tumour ordeal. 

Rich came to watch my first half marathon, and I just broke down at the end. I’ve never had that emotional response and didn’t expect tears. I realised it was because he’s the reason I run. He thinks I’m amazing, especially when I go out in all weather, even before or after walking the dog, but really, it’s him and Laura who are amazing. Their struggles and sheer determination continue to inspire me. 

At a work conference recently, I shared a ‘fun fact’ about myself – that I’m taking on this challenge for Brain Tumour Research. Afterwards other attendees approached me, telling me about loved ones impacted by this deadly disease. Until you get talking about it, you don’t realise just how many people are affected. I use my Instagram page to share my experience; it’s an honest update of the highs and lows of running. On the days when I don’t have the energy to run, the encouragement from family and friends motivates me to keep going. I’ve also received support from strangers who have come across my story and felt inspired to donate – their generosity keeps me grounded and emphasises the need for more funding into much-needed research.  

I’m creating a scrapbook with photos and notes about my journey. Dates are also inscribed on the medals I receive, so one day I will look back on these moments and acknowledge my endurance. I’ve also told too many people so can’t back out now! The more I’ve spoken about brain tumours, the more driven I’ve become in achieving my goal of running 12 half marathons in 12 months.