A woman is celebrating completing her first triathlon to mark reaching the same age as her mother was when she died from a brain tumour.
Rebecca Varney took part in the Southend Triathlon yesterday to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research. She completed a 750-metre open swim, followed by a 20km bike ride and a 5k run.
She was inspired to take on the challenge by her mother, Peggy Rickard, who died in July 1982 at the age of 57, three months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
Rebecca, who hopes to raise at least £1,000, said: “I had always fancied doing a triathlon; it was on my bucket list and, as I was coming up to the age my mother was when she died of a brain tumour, I thought now was as good a time as ever to attempt it. So this has turned into a double celebration: a celebration of getting fit and a celebration of being alive at 57.”
She added: “I would like to see better prognoses for people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour so that they’re not snatched away from their loved ones like my mother was from us.”
To sponsor Rebecca, please visit her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rebecca-varney5
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