A NEW fundraising initiative from the Brain Tumour Charity, The Twilight Walk, is bringing together hundreds of people to help stamp out brain tumours. Reporter Lucy Greensmith speaks to a well-known Grimbarian taking part ...
A BRAIN tumour survivor from Grimsby will be taking in the sights of Royal Windsor to raise money for a research programme.
Les Brechin, of First Avenue, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 and has since raised almost £13,000 for brain tumour charities.
His latest fundraiser, the 10km Twilight Walk, is in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity, and Les hopes to raise £1,000 by taking part.
He has had several operations owing to complications with initial surgery, which saw him stay in Hull Royal Infirmary for ten weeks.
He has now been left with part of his skull missing.
"I haven't carried out much fundraising for the last two years and I thought it was about time to do something again," he said.
"When I saw that the Brain Tumour Charity was doing this walk, I thought that I would register to take part.
"A 10km walk may not seem the most challenging of tasks, but as I am now in my late 40s, quite unfit and overweight; it will be for me!
"I am really looking forward to taking part in The Twilight Walk for such an important cause.
"I am also looking forward to meeting up with others who have been through a similar experience to myself."
The walk, on Sunday, October 6, is a walk around Royal Windsor around Windsor Castle, The Long Walk and the historic town centre.
Les will be raising vital funds for the Brain Tumour Charity's world-class research programme.
It is the UK's leading charity dedicated to fighting this devastating disease – the biggest cancer killer of people under 40 – and the largest dedicated investor of research into brain tumours in the country.
Les said: "I initially hoped to raise £500 for but I have already surpassed this figure through pledges from family and friends, so I have now revised my target to £1,000.
"About 350 people will be taking part, aiming to raise at least £35,000 in total, which could help to fund a pioneering research project for one year."
Les began getting headaches in January 2008 and just thought he needed to wear glasses.
He went to the opticians and they referred him to hospital, where he was told he had a brain tumour.
"It was a shock because it is not something you expect to hear," he said.
"I was transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary, where I underwent an operation to remove the tumour.
"In May 2008, I had an MRI scan which showed there was no regrowth and last November, I had a piece of porcelain put in to rebuild my skull.
"I now have to have an MRI scan once a year for the next five years."
Louise Taylor, the charity's director of fundraising, said: "We are extremely grateful for all the efforts made by our fantastic fundraisers and wish them all the very best as they take on The Twilight Walk challenge.
"Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and, unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved over the last 40 years.
"We receive no government funding and rely 100 per cent on voluntary donations, so it's only through the efforts of people like Les that we can change these shocking statistics in the future."
The Twilight Walk will start and end at the Windsor Leisure Centre, with the walk starting at 6pm.
For more information, visit www.thebraintumourcharity.org/thetwilightwalk
To sponsor Les, visit mydonate.BT.com/fundraisers/lesbrechin1
