A teenager who was diagnosed with a brain tumour seven years ago completed a fun run in fancy dress to raise funds to support research into the disease.
Poppy Eden, 17, ran the Medway Mile mascot race dressed as Princess Poppy – her favourite Trolls film character – in Gillingham, Kent, last Friday (21st July).
She raised more than £250 for Brain Tumour Research, a charity Poppy and her family have supported since she underwent emergency surgery after being diagnosed with a low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma in February 2016, aged 10.
Poppy’s mum Karen said: “Poppy’s one of the lucky ones. That’s why we do so much for the charity, because we appreciate that a lot of children have more treatment than she did.
“It has impacted her, though. She needed play therapy and counselling to help her deal with the shock and trauma she went through, and physiotherapy to overcome a minor weakness on one side. But the experience has made her stronger and I feel that having come through it, we can do more to help.
Poppy could not see very well in her spectacular costume so was helped on the day by her aunt, Amanda Wright (pictured right with Poppy in costume). Karen and Poppy’s nan, Jan Wright, also completed the event.
The family is fundraising to sponsor their second day of research at one of our Centres of Excellence. To add to their tally, Fort Pitt Grammar School – where Poppy is a pupil – will also be donating funds raised from a dress down day held on Friday.
Karen added: “We also don’t know if 10 years down the line the remaining tumour is going to cause a problem for Poppy. Hopefully it won’t but there’s always that inkling in the back of your mind and, if it does, we’ll be relying on the research taking place now, so we can’t just sit and do nothing.”
To support Poppy’s fundraising, please donate via her JustGiving page.
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