A Lanarkshire woman who was inspired to become a nurse after her beloved mum died of a brain tumour is now taking part in a month-long activity challenge to raise funds for research.
Siobhan Cunning lost mum Christine Mann to a glioblastoma in March 2019, only two years after she was diagnosed when an MRI scan revealed a mass on her brain.
Coatbridge resident Siobhan is now in her final year of a nursing degree at the University of the West of Scotland campus in Hamilton; and is taking part in November’s 100 daily squats or star jumps challenge in aid of the Brain Tumour Research charity.
Mum-of-three Christine had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and required twice-yearly scans at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, and it was a visit in 2016 which led to her diagnosis.
She was told that medics would be unable to operate because of the location of the tumour; and was offered radiotherapy offering her “a few more years”, but refused the treatment.
Christine’s condition then deteriorated in February 2019 and she was taken to Monklands Hospital, where she died three days later.
Siobhan, 42, said: “We were told it was a glioblastoma and they wouldn’t be able to operate because it was in such a sensitive location.
“After her diagnosis, Mum just progressively got worse – She was delusional at times, she had some falls and broke her wrist.
“I was eager for mum to have the treatment and I felt angry with her, but it was her life and her choice. Mum wanted to see how it went; it was the way she wanted to do it and I respected that.”
She told how her mum’s brain tumour diagnosis played in a big part in her career decision, saying: “What happened to her made me want to be a nurse.
“I enjoy helping and looking after other people, and Mum played such a big part in my decision to study.
“Thankfully, she was alive when I got accepted from the university – I was so proud and she was too.”
As well as her nursing studies, mum-of-two Siobhan is now taking part in this month’s charity challenge alongside eight-year-old son Sebastian to raise funds to further research into brain tumours.
She said: “When I told Sebastian I was doing this in his grandma’s memory, he really wanted to do it with me, and he’s now spurring me on.
“The statistics for brain tumours are shocking and so little funding is given towards this devastating disease. They should have the same importance as other cancers and more needs to be done to find a cure.”
Siobhan, who has a donations page on Facebook, is no stranger to active fundraising challenges – four years ago, she and friend Chris Sayle raised £15,000 by walking 865 miles around Scotland to visit its 42 football league grounds.
Matthew Price of Brain Tumour Research thanked her and Sebastian for taking part in the charity’s squats and star jumps fundraiser, saying: “It’s only with the support of people like them that we’re able to progress our research and improve the outcome for patients like Christine who are forced to fight this awful disease.
“I would encourage anyone who is able to take part in the challenge to do so; it’s fun and gets you fit whilst raising vital funds to help find a cure for brain tumours.”
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