Mum with brain tumour to run London Marathon

Aimi Battershall said she "can’t wait to show the kids my medal, and for them to be proud of their mum”

A mum who is living with a brain tumour will run the London Marathon.

Aimi Battershall, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was diagnosed with a low grade glioma in December 2018, while pregnant with her second child.

Her tumour was found to be calcified, which meant it had been there a long time, and cannot be removed.

Despite the tumour causing some health problems, she will take on the 26.2 mile (42.2km) race on Sunday 21 April.

Ms Battershall was diagnosed when her second son George was six weeks old

The travel agent was 34 weeks' pregnant when she had a "funny turn" in the form of a seizure.

She felt numbness and tingling in both hands, could not see out her right eye, and jumbled up her words.

The 38-year-old was admitted to hospital and had an MRI scan, but because she was pregnant, she could not have a contrast scan, which highlights the features of a tumour.

Ms Battershall, who is mum to Jack, now eight, was diagnosed when George now five, was just six weeks old.

During the 2020 lockdown she had to surrender her driving licence after back to back seizures

“I remember the consultant’s words so clearly… ‘You have a brain tumour and it is likely cancerous,’ she said.

“All I could think about was the children and how much they needed me.

"I had lots of nights crying thinking I was going to die, and I instantly stopped breastfeeding because I thought I would have to start treatment.”

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Because the tumour was calcified, it could not be removed and Ms Battershall had regular scans to monitor it.

It has caused some health problems, and on her return to work from maternity leave, she started to have seizures.

This meant she could no longer drive, and the family moved from a rural village to a town.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours

Ms Battershall said she aimed to raise £2,700 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

She added: “The marathon is going to be a huge challenge for me.

“My training has been a mix of highs and lows. I am incredibly proud of myself, my mind is definitely stronger than my body.

“As the miles have increased, my health is playing on my mind. I have to resist going all in like most people can. It’s frustrating, but I know my body’s warning signs and I am definitely listening.

“Even if I have to walk most of the miles, I will complete this!”