An East Lothian son has told how his mother's slurred speech turned out to be an inoperable brain tumour.
Colin Bone from Gullane, East Lothian, was left heartbroken after his mum, Lucille was diagnosed with stage four cancer after doctors found a tumour on her brain.
One evening in 2018, Lucille started to slur her words. Only after getting a brain scan, it was revealed she had a brain tumour. Doctors then told her the tragic news that she had stage four cancer and it was incurable.
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Colin, 49, said: “This already impossible news only intensified when we learned her brain tumour was secondary, and therefore was stage four incurable cancer.
“Following this devastating diagnosis, Mum was given amazing medication from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, which helped her lead a very normal life for a few years.”
Colin, managing director of Edinburgh-based architecture studio Kettle Collective, said: “The treatment Mum had was made possible by all those who have already fundraised to support brain tumour research.
“I wanted to give something back to the incredible work and research that helped Mum, so in 2019 I trained for and ran the London Marathon. I had no previous running experience, in fact I really didn’t like running, but Mum came to London that day and she really enjoyed seeing me finish.”
Lucille had such a great time that Colin promised her he would run it again and signed up the following year. However, due to Covid-19, Colin had to defer it to 2023.
Tragically, Lucille wouldn't make it to see her son run. The beloved mother, who had three children and seven grandchildren, passed away on March 14 2022, aged 79.
The runner added: “Very sadly, mum won’t be here this year to cheer me on at the finish line, but I am keeping my promise to her regardless.
“Brain tumours are the meanest of all. They kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours.
"I’m on a mission to change that, even if it does mean going outside of my comfort zone, because fundraising makes such a difference to people affected by brain cancer.”
Brain Tumour Research is providing its runners with a package of support in the lead up to the event, including help from running coaches and access to a participants Facebook Group.
Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re very sorry to hear about Colin’s mum, unfortunately with one in three people knowing somebody affected by a brain tumour, her diagnosis was not unusual.
“We’re really grateful to Colin for taking on this huge challenge to help raise funds for our cause. Our Marathon runners are supported every step of the way, and we look forward to cheering him across the finish line.
“If you have your own place through the ballot, we would love you to join our Fighting Force London Marathon team.”
Colin joins a team of more than 70 people running for Brain Tumour Research on Sunday April 23.
To support Colin’s fundraising, visit just giving.
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