Alison Kenton has spent the past year learning to walk again after an operation to remove a brain tumour caused a stroke that paralysed her right side. Regaining her strength has been tough – but it’s a battle Alison was determined to win.
Alison, a 24-year-old teacher from Camberley in Surrey, challenged herself to complete the milestone distance of walking 5km on 11th December 2024 because it was exactly a year after she took her first steps in hospital.
Accompanied by her dog Maggie, partner Andy Fox, parents Paul and Geraldine Kenton as well as her 86-year-old gran Jill, and her physio, Caroline Bicheno, she completed the walk in just under 90 minutes. Her efforts have raised more than £1000 for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Shock diagnosis
The walk was a giant step for Ali who was diagnosed with a rare grade 2 central neurocytoma in October 2023.
These mostly non-cancerous tumours are rare – making up less than 1% of brain tumours worldwide. They differ from most brain and central nervous system tumours because they grow from neurons rather than glial cells. Neurons are a type of nerve cell that sends messages to and from the brain.
The scan results came as a huge shock to Ali as she had been playing netball just the day before she was rushed to hospital, and only experienced a migraine and sickness for a short spell.
Emergency surgery at St George’s Hospital successfully removed all the tumour in a 10-hour operation. But during recovery, a bleed caused a stroke which left Alison paralysed down her right side – her dominant side.
She was discharged from hospital in a wheelchair and warned that she might need to use it for the rest of her life. But Alison was absolutely determined to walk again and maybe even run in the future.
On December 11th, 2023, she took her first few steps in hospital, with her mum poised to support her if needed, and it was captured on camera:
Long road back to health
Learning to walk again – and summoning enough strength to complete her 5K challenge – involved a lot of hard work with her physio, who was there to cheer her on.
“Learning to walk again, and slowly building up my strength and fitness after what happened, has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I still have days where I’m frustrated, angry and emotional.
Alison Kenton
“Taking those very first steps a year ago was overwhelming – but most of all, I was so relieved. I was adamant I wasn’t going to stay in a wheelchair, despite the initial grim prognosis.
“Looking back now, I was desperate to get better, but I genuinely don’t know how I did. Somehow I had the determination, with the support of my partner, and family and friends. I created a little mantra for myself, because I was frustrated – still am, sometimes – at the lack of progress I’m making. I tell myself to “Strive for progress, not perfection” – and to take each day as it comes.”
Completing her challenge
As walking leaves Alison so fatigued, she hadn’t walked as far as 5km during her training, so completing the full distance at Bramshot Farm Country Park in Fleet, Hampshire, was a challenge. But the rain and wind held off and she was cheered on by her family – including, from a distance, her younger sister Sophie who’s at university in Sheffield.
Her mum, Geraldine, said: “It’s amazing to see how far she’s come. We’re all so proud of Ali and just thrilled to have her here with us when we consider how things could have turned out. The brain tumour she has is very rare and the risk of stroke was too, but we’re so pleased at the recovery she’s making.”
Jo Porter, the Charity’s PR Manager, went along to cheer on Alison and capture the moment as she finished her walk, alongside partner Andy.
As well as completing a very personal challenge, Alison is delighted to have raised over £1,000 for the Charity.
She said: “The charity has been a life saver to me and my family – including providing me with mental health support. I still remember ordering the Family Pack, which explains how to support someone with a brain tumour diagnosis, the day before my emergency surgery! A huge thank you to everyone who has donated. I’m so grateful for the all the encouragement.
“Maybe I am a bit crazy, but why not push myself! Who knows, next year it might be running! Maybe I’m being a bit ambitious. But everyone who knows me knows I like a challenge!“
You can read more about Alison’s story on her fundraising page : https://www.gofundme.com/f/alis-5km-charity-walk?
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