Meet two of the runners taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2025
Verity’s Story
“You never think something like this will happen to you, until it does. I’ve made it my mission to raise as much money as I can whilst I’m well enough to do so.”
Verity
In February 2022, learning she had a brain tumour turned Verity’s life upside down. Every day she copes with the after effects of surgery and treatment, and with a prognosis she describes as a “death sentence.” Determined to make a difference, she’s thrown
Glioblastoma diagnosis
A few weeks before her diagnosis, Verity, 34, from Grimsby, had been feeling sick and having headaches she just couldn’t get rid of. She was also increasingly feeling faint, losing her balance, and slurring words, though she battled on with family life and her work as a pharmacy technician. The symptoms had come on quickly and Verity assumed she must have an infection.
On February 9th 2022, her daughter’s 7th birthday, her husband refused to let her go to work. Instead, he took her to A&E where it was first thought she was having a stroke. Further investigations revealed a mass on her brain and a few weeks later, at Hull Royal Infirmary, she was told she had a glioblastoma. Verity explains:
“Being diagnosed with brain cancer – or any cancer, for that matter, is hard. Although I am currently fit and healthy, I feel like I live my life with a death sentence.
“Sometimes I feel so mad at the world, at everyone. But the way I see it is that every day is a good day, and my quote is: “accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.”
“For now, I am well looked after. I have quarterly MRI scans to check the progress of my tumour. It kills me waking up every day knowing that at some point, my tumour will be back – but on the plus side, I wake up grateful that I’m alive, as I know not everyone gets that chance.
Verity and the London Landmarks Half Marathon: “Challenges keep me going.”
“I’m not able to work at the moment, but that gives me more time to spend with my kids and husband, and I also volunteer at a local food larder.
“Setting myself challenges through fundraising for this charity and others keeps me going. I’m really looking forward to run – or most likely, walk – the London Landmarks half marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity.
“It will be a big challenge as I haven’t run in years, but for me it’s worth it – it’s not about winning, it’s about taking part and raising lots of money. I intend to run it, but if I can’t, I will still walk it or get wheeled round if I’m poorly.
“What will keep me going is my family being by my side. I used to think my life was working to live – now I look to make memories. I have a completely different mindset.”
Rio’s story
I can’t wait to immerse myself in the atmosphere and have the best time, meet some other fundraisers too, and make my Pap and the Brain Tumour Charity proud.
Rio
Rio, 34, was never a fan of long distance running, having chosen sprinting as a child – but she was inspired to train for this year’s London Landmarks Half Marathon after losing her grandfather, Mick Jarrett, to a brain tumour. Sadly, his death in 2018 from a glioblastoma – the most common high grade primary brain tumour in adults – wasn’t the first time the disease has affected her family. Rio’s mum, Lorraine Corbett, 59, was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour 11 years ago. Rio said:
“Pap was the kindest, happiest, most thoughtful person ever, and always thought the absolute world of his family.
“We first noticed something was wrong when he started getting headaches consistently, and he lost the ability to do his crosswords, and enjoy horse racing – his favourites. Then he drove through a red light, which as a lorry driver was extremely unlike him. He knew something was wrong and went to his GP a few times, and even begged for a head scan, but was not offered one, sadly.”
Rio’s grandfather was prescribed anti-depressants but things got worse, not better, until he fell over twice in one week, needing an ambulance each time. Rio explains:
“It was the paramedic who decided he needed a head scan at the hospital, and then we finally got the diagnosis – a glioblastoma brain tumour (GBM).
“It was extremely upsetting as when it was finally diagnosed, his brain tumour was stage 4 and we were just told to take him home and care for him as nothing more could be done.
“No one should have to go what we went through. Had it been picked up earlier, we might have bought him more time with treatment, potentially.”
Running for a cure: Taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon
Taking on the iconic run in her grandfather’s memory is particularly apt as Rio’s Pap was a runner himself. The London Landmarks Half Marathon, which starts on Whitehall and finishes by Trafalgar Square takes runners through the heart of London. And Rio is looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere on Race Day:
“I’ve been consistently running now 3 to 4 times a week since last April, have entered some races, and love overcoming each distance and pushing myself. Pap is a big running inspiration to me – he ran marathons!
“I am looking forward to everything about race day itself! I can’t wait to immerse myself in the atmosphere and have the best time, meet some other fundraisers too, and make my Pap and the Brain Tumour Charity proud. I am dreading it being over though… I might have to get another one booked!”
Take part in a charity challenge!
If you’re inspired by Verity and Rio, you’ll be excited to hear that you can take part in your own charity challenge. Click the button below to find a challenge that suits you!