A "lucky" brain tumour survivor from Swindon who is "just grateful to be alive" is calling for more funding.

Mum-of-two Maxine Wrathall, 45, was running her cafe when she started to get headaches and suffer from fatigue.

In November 2022, she had a sudden seizure at work, becoming so rigid she was unable to be placed in the recovery position.

Scans revealed a dormant meningioma, which had been growing for many years and which required urgent surgery.

(Image: Brain Tumour Research)

Her tumour had become so embedded in her skull, a credit card-sized piece of bone had to be sawn out during her five-hour craniotomy.

 

Ms Wrathall said: "Before my operation, I saw a seven-year-old boy being readied for surgery.

"That’s when I knew, whatever happened, I was one of the lucky ones.

"More children are affected by brain tumours than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002."

Maxine Wrathall fundraising for Brain Tumour ResearchMaxine Wrathall fundraising for Brain Tumour Research (Image: Brain Tumour Research)The surgery left Ms Wrathall with cognitive and memory issues, but also a determination to fight back against the disease.

She has raised more than £7,000 for Brain Tumour Research through various fundraising initiatives, including taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 6.

She said: "Now I look at life in a new light, with a certain detachment from the things that used to bother me before.

"Whilst I am wary my tumour will one day come back, I know I am so lucky, and that so many brain tumour patients are worse off.

"This is why I am doing whatever I can to support Brain Tumour Research.

Maxine WrathallMaxine Wrathall (Image: Brain Tumour Research) "I don’t understand why the government isn’t doing more to tackle a disease that is so devastating, and affects so many children in particular."

Ms Wrathall has supported the charity in its calls for the government to fulfil its pledge made in 2018 to invest £40 million into research into brain tumours.

Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Since the government promise was made, a little over 25 per cent of the money has ended up in the hands of the researchers. This is unacceptable."

She added: "We are so grateful to Maxine for her continued support for the cause.

"Her inspirational fundraising efforts have paid for almost three full days of research at one of our Centres of Excellence."

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