Mum-of-three to run Boston Marathon in memory of brain tumour colleague

Brain Tumour Research

2 min read

A mum-of-three from East Lothian will run the Boston Marathon to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research, in memory of a colleague who lost her life to the devastating disease.

Gemma Teague, 39, will complete the iconic 26.2-mile course in April as the final leg of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star challenge. Gemma began her marathon journey as a personal goal – but now dedicates her efforts to the memory of Ann Henderson, a beloved colleague who died from a brain tumour in 2018.

Gemma, an advanced physiotherapy practitioner, said: “Ann was such a shining light in our team. Her diagnosis was a devastating blow, and she fought so bravely, but the disease was relentless.”

Ann, who worked alongside Gemma in Edinburgh’s Community Respiratory Team, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumour, in May 2018. Despite undergoing surgery and treatment to fight it, she died just six months later, at the age of 51.

Gemma explained: “It was the morning of the New York Marathon when I found out she had sadly succumbed to the tumour. Six years later, running the Boston Marathon for the charity Brain Tumour Research is my way of honouring her memory and contributing to the fight against this cruel disease.”

Gemma’s fundraising efforts will go towards funding a new Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence. A collaboration between Brain Tumour Research and Beatson Cancer Charity, the centre will focus on accelerating research into glioblastoma.

You can support the new Scottish Centre of Excellence via Gemma’s JustGiving page, or organise your own fundraiser.