POINTS EARNED
Vanessa's Charitable Life
CROWDRISE ROYALTY
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HOME: Neutral Bay, NS, Australia
PERSONAL WEBSITE: Fit By Nature
ROCK PAPER OR SCISSORS: Rock
In October 2010, Vanessa ran the Melbourne Half Marathon and qualified for the New York Marathon for 2011. During the race, she felt a little dizzy but didn’t think anything of it – it was half marathon after all!
But only three weeks later, she was suddenly very ill. The doctors diagnosed Vanessa with a brain tumor, which she’d probably had for the last ten years, and needed immediate surgery. On November 4, the surgery was successfully completed and a tumor the size of a tennis ball removed. Thankfully it was benign.
Vanessa spent the next week in the Intensive Care Unit recovering and Tim spent the week thanking god for his wife back!
But being a fit person Vanessa recovered fast and a few hours out of ICU she was taking her first steps around the corridors of the hospital. The neurosurgeon discharged Vanessa a week ahead of schedule as she had recovered so well and told her to do nothing for a month. But he didn’t understand Vanessa’s idea of nothing meant twice-daily walks, which soon turned into small runs.
In April 2011, Vanessa received her acceptance into the New York Marathon, but Tim was not so successful in the lottery. But determined to do it together, they decided to run for a charity – but not just any charity.
Almost exactly a year after Vanessa’s brain surgery Vanessa and Tim will be flying half way around the world to run the New York Marathon proudly for The Brain Tumor Foundation of America - a charity very close to their hearts (and heads!). And as they don’t do things by halves, they're aiming to do it fast!
Look out New York!
WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ME:
Forget voting, just support us and support The Brain Tumour Foundation.
A dollar for every KM should do it ($42.25).
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Hi Vanessa,
I just came across your story and wanted to pass along my support and congratulations. It looks like I missed your running of the NYC Marathon, but I still wanted to let you know how inspiring your story is. I hear from people everyday that have been affected by a brain tumor diagnosis and it is wonderful to be able to point them towards examples of people who are attacking this challenege with strength and determination, like yourself.
Thank you for allowing your stength and bravery to serve as an inspiration to others. And on behalf of all organizations like ours that are fighting for a cure, I thank you for bringing much needed attention and funding to the brain tumor space.
Best,
Danielle
Danielle@abc2.org
Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure
www.abc2.org