A brain tumour patient is preparing to take on the 2023 TCS London Marathon to help find a cure for the disease.
Matthew Stride was diagnosed with a grade three anaplastic astrocytoma in 2015, at the age of 26. He underwent surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and was given a devastating prognosis of just five years.
Thankfully, Matthew has recovered well and is monitored with regular scans. A scan in September 2022 came back stable and his tumour isn’t currently visible.
Having outlived his prognosis by two years, Matthew is taking on the London Marathon for Brain Tumour Research for a second time.
He first completed it in 2017 as part of a group of five runners, who raised £35,000 between them, and is determined to beat his previous time of four hours and 33 seconds.
Matthew said: “I was watching the 2022 runners and got real FOMO. It will be six years since my last one and I wanted to challenge myself to get out and do it again. It’s such an important cause to continue to support.”
“It’s made me appreciate life more, say yes to more and take opportunities – because you never know what’s around the corner. I believe things happen for a reason and it’s all worked out well in the end.”
To support Matthew’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mjstride7
Were you one of the lucky ones to get a place in the ballot? We’d love you to join our Fighting Force team! Email Carol, our National Events Manager, via carol@braintumourresearch.org for more details.
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