Knebworth mum's fundraising challenge after brain tumour diagnosis

Gabrielle Renée, 50, first saw her GP in 2019 after experiencing déjà vu, confusion, and visual disturbances, which doctors put down to years of stress following a marriage breakdown and family illness.

Gabrielle during treatment for her brain tumour (Image: Brain Tumour Research) She was sent home and told to breathe into a paper bag and get counselling.

It was even suggested Gabrielle’s extreme visual disturbances of zigzags, dots and people appearing cartoon-like were down to migraines.

The mother-of-two is spending the month raising money for Brain Tumour Research.

Alina, Elisa, Benji and Gabrielle (Image: Brain Tumour Research) She said: “I felt relieved. I thought to myself; thank goodness it’s nothing serious. Years went by and I felt as though the betablockers I was given for the migraines weren’t doing anything.

"When I saw the GP again, they said the symptoms I’d been describing were seizures and I instantly knew it was more serious than first thought.”

An MRI scan in February 2022 confirmed Gabrielle’s worst fears and she was diagnosed with an astrocytoma.

Gabrielle and Alina married in September 2022 (Image: Brain Tumour Research) While awaiting a treatment plan, in September 2022 she married Alina, at Stevenage Registry Office. Five months later, in February 2023 the newlywed had surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge which removed almost 95 per cent of her cancerous tumour.

Radiotherapy followed, but she was unable to complete chemotherapy after she became too unwell to continue.

Gabrielle had surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital which removed almost 95% of her tumour which was cancerous. (Image: Brain Tumour Research) Gabrielle, who works as a hearing therapist and lip-reading teacher, said: “The whole experience was hugely traumatic. The pain from the operation was excruciating and the high dose of steroids I had to take changed my personality. I talked non-stop, walked obsessively and felt depressed.”

In July, a scan confirmed a change in her in her tumour.

Gabrielle in hospital (Image: Brain Tumour Research) As she remains on a ‘watch and wait’ Gabrielle, Alina and their two children are taking on the Brain Tumour Research 99 Miles in November challenge.

Participants have the full month to complete the distance in any way they choose.

She said: “Together, we’ve covered 45 miles so far. And find that I can cover at least a mile every morning by pacing the train station platform as I always get there early.

“When I was given my diagnosis, I knew I wanted to support people with all types of brain tumours. Just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002. 

"If I can help to raise awareness of how little is invested in research into the disease, then I will do that for as long as I can.”

Benji, Elisa, Gabriella and Alina are taking on the challenge to support Brain Tumour Research (Image: Brain Tumour Research) Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Gabrielle’s story is sadly not unfamiliar, one in three people knows someone affected by a brain tumour.

"If we are to understand this disease, there must be adequate funding into research brain tumours. It’s with her support and generosity of people such as Gabrielle and her whole family, that will help us one step closer to finding kinder treatments and eventually a cure for all types of brain tumours.”

To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Gabrielle’s fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alina1728457301668.