A West Midlands woman with a high-grade glioblastoma is continuing her mission to help find a cure for the deadly disease.
Hannah King-Page, from Meriden near Solihull, was diagnosed with the fast-growing brain tumour at the age of 38, in November 2020. Brain tumour surgery removed up to half of the mass, but Hannah struggled afterwards with right-sided weakness – having to relearn how to walk, sit up, write and speak.
Forced to give up her dream job as a physiotherapist, Hannah faced her uncertain prognosis by setting up Hannah’s Kingdom, a Fundraising Group of Brain Tumour Research that has raised more than £22,000 of research funds to date – such as taking part in the Solihull half marathon in 2022 with friend Ranjit (below left).
Now, along with her cousin Sarah Martin, Hannah is embarking on her most ambitious fundraiser yet – a 50km journey across the Moroccan Sahara. The four-day Trek Sahara challenge, starting on 27ᵗʰ March, will see Hannah, Sarah and 14 others, each with a personal connection to brain tumours, brave extreme heat, sand dunes and long, gruelling days without basic comforts.
Hannah, whose most recent scan showed that her tumour remains stable, said: “Taking on the Sahara challenge without showers, running water or toilets will be like a festival – but without the parties, bands or booze.
“It’s bittersweet approaching the fifth anniversary of my diagnosis later this year, knowing that just 5% of patients with a glioblastoma survive that long. I’ve connected with quite a few people, especially on social media, who sadly haven’t lived beyond 18 months.”
To help Hannah improve that prognosis, donate to us via her JustGiving page.
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