RVN takes on charity bike ride for brain tumour research
A veterinary nurse from Suffolk is set to take on a gruelling 54-mile bike ride in support of her brother-in-law, who is suffering from an incurable brain tumour.
Lisa Lungley, a deputy night nurse manager at Dick White Referrals in Cambridgeshire, will be cycling from London to Brighton on Sunday (11 September) to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Lisa, who lives in Boxted, Bury St Edmunds, said Joe Lungley’s diagnosis was a shock and had a devastating impact on the family. Through her challenge, she hopes to raise as much as she can to help fund vital brain tumour research.
Commenting on Joe’s diagnosis, she said: “In March 2021, Joe went off to work as normal, but later that day he suffered his first seizure. After initially being told it was most likely epilepsy, he then suffered more seizures and was sent for further investigations, which showed that it was not epilepsy but a brain tumour.
“He underwent two exploratory surgeries of his brain and was devastatingly diagnosed with an aggressive, inoperable tumour which could not be cured. Joe then underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment, only to find out that the tumour had still grown.
“He has since had his chemo changed, and the encouraging news is that, although the tumour hasn’t shrunk, it’s not growing.”
Lisa has nothing but admiration for Joe and his wife Paula, a night nurse at DWR, for how they have handled his condition.
She said: “Last March they gave Joe just 18 months to live, but he’s already outlived that and is still fighting hard. We’re all supporting Joe and Paula as much as we can and I thought doing the bike ride in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity was another way I could contribute.
“I want to raise as much money as I can to help other people in Joe’s position. If I can do the bike ride in just over five hours and raise £500, I will be happy. There is still so much which isn’t known about these aggressive tumours - so the more we can raise, the more money they can put into their research.”
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours internationally. The charity works to save and improve the lives of people affected by a brain tumour and is focused on finding new treatments and offering the highest level of support to sufferers.
At the time of writing, Lisa’s page had raised a total of £400 to donate visit justgiving.com
Image (C) Dick White Referrals.