Aimi Battershall, a mum of two who lives in Huntingdon, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018.

Now, in 2024, she's set to run the London Marathon to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity. 

The Hunts Post: Aimi is fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity.Aimi is fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity. (Image: Battershall Family)

Aimi, a 38-year-old travel agent, was pregnant with her second child when she was diagnosed with a low grade glioma in December 2018.

She was 34 weeks pregnant when she had her first seizure, which was one of the first signs that something was wrong.

She also had numbness and tingling in both of her hands, she couldn't see out of her right eye and she had jumbled up words. 

Aimi called the maternity unit and was admitted to hospital for a week.

She had an MRI scan, but because she was pregnant she couldn't have a contrast - which highlights the features of a tumour. 

Aimi said: "Something did show up on my scan but they suspected an old stroke, which was petrifying enough.

"It was decided to re-scan after birth. It was a couple of weeks after my second son was born that I was able to have another MRI scan, this time with contrast, and after this they were able to see it was definitely a tumour."

Aimi was diagnosed when her youngest son, George, was just six weeks old.

The Hunts Post: Aimi with her sons, Jack and George.Aimi with her sons, Jack and George. (Image: Battershall Family)

George is now five, and his older brother, Jack, is now eight.

Aimi was soon referred to Addenbrooke's after her diagnosis.

"I remember being in a side room feeding George and sobbing.

"All I could think about was the children and how much they needed me. I had lots of nights crying and thinking I was going to die."

Fortunately, the specialists at Addenbrooke's gave Aimi better news.

Her tumour was found to be calcified, which means its been there a long time - likely since she was a child.

Because of its location, surgery isn't an option and instead she has regular scans to monitor the tumour.

She has faced problems whilst living with her brain tumour, and she now takes epileptic medication since suffering seizures on her return to work after maternity leave.

She also surrendered her driving licence during the Covid-19 pandemic after she had back-to-back seizures.

Despite her health causing set backs in her life, Aimi has tackled the Couch to 5k NHS programme and is set to run the London Marathon. 

The Hunts Post: Aimi will run the 26 miles on Sunday, April 21.Aimi will run the 26 miles on Sunday, April 21. (Image: Battershall Family)

Aimi has so far raised £2,700 for The Brain Tumour Charity. 

On the day of the London Marathon, Aimi will be wearing a special running vest with 26 names on.

These are the names of people affected by different illnesses, including brain tumours, for each mile she runs.

Aimi said that she is "extremely honoured" to wear these names on her vest as she tackles her run.

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