PE teacher diagnosed with brain tumour 'so proud' to win award

Rachel Bown said she began noticing issues with her vision and severe headaches in 2013

A PE teacher who was diagnosed with a brain tumour has said she was "over the moon" to be recognised with an award.

Rachel Bown, 52, coaches students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) whilst also competing as a triathlete for Team GB.

The Trowbridge-based teacher won Further Education Lecturer of the Year at the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards in November.

Ms Bown said she was "so proud to have influenced thousands of children".

Doctors initially assumed Ms Bown was dehydrated and exhausted from training as an athlete when she first started suffering with severe migraines about 10 years ago.

But in 2014, scans revealed the SEND PE practitioner at Fairfield Farm College had a "satsuma-sized" brain tumour.

Emergency surgery and a subsequent infection eventually led to the complete loss of vision in her right eye.

Ms Bown represents Great Britain as a triathlete

In 2022, Ms Bown represented Team GB at the Europe Triathlon Championships in Poland where she received a bronze medal.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire she said, "It showed that I was truly back, that Rachel Bown was back," she said.

"As a teacher, as an athlete, and as a person."

Whilst critically ill in hospital, Ms Bown worried she might never be able to compete or teach again

Ms Bown was selected as the Pearson's Award winner against thousands of nominees, based on her personalised physical and mental support for SEND pupils.

"I'm genuinely so proud to have influenced thousands of children," Ms Bown said.

"I was just over the moon to even be nominated. It really felt like a lifetime achievement award."

She said she thinks about her condition "every single day".

"Not in a morose way," she added. "Just as a reminder that tomorrow isn't promised and to make the most of today."