Life with a brain tumour is definitely not easy! But its one that brings with it pain and joy! everyday is a journey! A few months ago I was given the opportunity to become an ambassador for the Brain Tumour Charity, along with other young people from across the UK to help motivate & encourage change in the fight against Brain tumours! After being in Hospital for the first residential it was amazing to get to meet everyone this, weekend! Hearing everyone's stories was finally a chance after last year to meet people like me and helped me to see im not alone! One of the most important things I learnt in the 2 days at the charity headquarters, was BE YOU. A friend of mine always tells me to 'do me'. Which at first I was like yeah mate I can't do much than do me as I can't be anyone else if you think about it! So whats your point? Looking back, I've done everything but be me, because of my tumour! When I think about it im so scared of my disability and the way it shapes the way people look at me, I often run and don't take the chances I missed. Having two great big scars on the top of your head is not something you would probably ask for. But They are probably one of the defining features of me, although part of me wishes they weren't! Being yourself is hard at the best of times with without the added pressure of anything else I found this quote by the Spanish Athlete Andres Iniesta who said ' Some people like you, some people don't. In the end you just have to be yourself' The reason this quote stood out for me is because ive always tried to be liked by everyone! when in reality trying to get one person who bullied me as a kid, meant I lost my other friends at the time! On the Train the the headquarters on Friday I was scared that people wouldn't like me and that it would be two days of people judging me as we took part in the training sessions! in part because I worry a bit to much. But after about 5 minutes of sitting down it felt liked we had all known each other for years. I'd spoken to everyone on Facebook since we had all been given the role as Brain Tumour Charity young ambassadors but walking in to the office I have never felt so nervous about what a group of people where going to think of me! By that evening when we got back from a meal out we where playing charades and was making a fool of myself. Which I guess is something I do most days. To sum up the time at the headquarters for the charity in one word is extremely difficult but by the end I didn't want to leave and can't wait to get started on developing campaigns and being an ambassador for the charity! Since becoming aware of the Brain Tumour Charity in late 2010. It has opened my eyes to the amount of people facing the the harshness of the condition day in - day out. I was going to put up facts and figures, but id rather just keep it simple with the one key message. Brain Tumours are the biggest cancer killer in the under 40's This is a scary fact! despite this we can reduce it by early diagnosis and intervention. Below is one of the 'Headsmart' cards which you can get through the Charity and Headmsart campaign Website ( links below) Although these are not a way to diagnose yourself, they help as with me last year to detect when something is not really right and it might be worth seeing your GP! Websites Brain Tumour Charity: http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org Headsmart: http://www.headsmart.org.uk/
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AuthorBrain tumour survivor. Ambassador, campaigner and co-founder of #IFightFor Archives
January 2019
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