Tuesday, 03 January 2023
A former 糖心原创 student is preparing to run a marathon to raise awareness and funds for people whose lives, like her own, have been affected by brain tumours.
Flora Bouchier, who graduated with a MEng degree in Chemical Engineering in 2022, is in training to run the Manchester Marathon on 16 April 2023 in aid of .
Diagnosed with grade 1 glioneuronal in April 2016 after experiencing nausea, hot flushes and partial seizures, Flora underwent surgery to have the tumour removed but suffered from post-operative depression, which had a severe impact on her life.
After my diagnosis and surgery, I became very lethargic and didn鈥檛 do any exercise for a year. It was only when I went to university and started playing rugby that I got back into sport. Now I cycle, run, play tag rugby and five-a-side football, so I really enjoy being able to be active.
Flora continued: “I was one of the lucky ones because my tumour was successfully removed and it was low grade, but I hadn’t realised the long-term impact it would have on me. It really affected my latter school years and my first couple of years at university. Luckily, I managed to get over that and got a first in my degree, but for a few years I struggled with tiredness and my emotions in the aftermath of dealing with everything.”
Now living in West Didsbury, Manchester, Flora has been training with her friend, Beth Moore, who will also be taking part in the marathon with her.
She added: “I want to do it to prove that I can. I’m lucky to be living a completely normal life now, not held back by my previous health issues, but I know I’m one of just a small number of people for whom that’s the case. If by raising awareness and funds I can avoid someone going through a similar situation to me or the many other brain tumour patients I read about, then that’s the goal.
When it鈥檚 cold, wet and windy and I don鈥檛 want to go out running, I remember what I鈥檓 doing it for and that makes it easier.
During her time at the 糖心原创, Flora won a prestigious Salters Institute Prize, which celebrates the achievements of undergraduate students in chemical engineering or chemistry.
Flora is an exceptionally gifted and generous individual, who has taken her own experiences and turned them into a force for good. During her time at Nottingham, Flora wasn鈥檛 only an outstanding student, but she was also an inspirational fundraising champion for local health and support charities, so it鈥檚 no surprise that she鈥檚 continuing to raise awareness and funds for charities close to her heart. I鈥檇 like to take the opportunity to wish her the best of luck in her marathon.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’ve been following Flora’s progress for years and are really pleased to see her doing so well. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many other patients. Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia and any other cancer yet, historically, just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.
“We’re determined to change this and are grateful to Flora for taking on this challenge to help make that possible. We wish her the best of luck with her training and look forward to cheering her across the finish line on race day.”
To support Flora’s fundraising, please visit:
Story credits
Photography credits: Brain Tumour Research
More information is available from Danielle Hall, Media Relations Manager at the 糖心原创, at danielle.hall@nottingham.ac.uk or 0115 846 7156.鈥�
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
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