Brave Nichole launches Blackburn's Race for Life
Date: 30/01/12
Blackburn with Darwen - Blackburn & Darwen
BRAVE NICOLE LAUNCHES RACE FOR LIFE 2012
A BRAVE 19-year-old launched Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Blackburn. Nichole Bain will be guest of honour at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at Witton Park in Blackburn on Wednesday June 20. The former Witton Park High School pupil, who lives in the Canterbury Street area of Blackburn, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in summer 2009.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in partnership with Tesco is an amazing women-only series of events, which raises millions of pounds every year for life-saving research into 200 types of cancer. Race for Life is non-competitive. Women can choose whether to walk, jog or run the 5k route. Most are able to walk 5k in an hour and all women are welcome, regardless of whether they are taking part on their own or as part of a group.
Nichole, who has an older brother called Kyle, had been suffering health problems for nine months, including headaches, sickness, weight loss, her eyesight was affected and she had started to slur her words. However, despite many visits to the GP, it was suggested that Nichole could be suffering from stress or an eating disorder. She bravely sat her GCSE exams despite feeling so ill.
When she was eventually referred to a neurologist and a tumour was found on her brain, Nichole and her family were initially told it was non-cancerous. But further tests revealed Nichole had “medulloblastoma” – an aggressive and cancerous brain tumour. Following emergency and painstaking surgery in summer 2009, Nichole was admitted to the Young Oncology Unit of The Christie hospital in Manchester.
She started a gruelling schedule of treatment which included six weeks of radiotherapy treatment and eight months of chemotherapy. The courageous teen also had to learn to walk again as she was left in a wheelchair following the surgery. However, brave Nichole fought her way back to good health and enjoyed taking part in Blackburn Race for Life last summer to raise cash for Cancer Research UK. She also received a Cancer Research UK Little Star award in 2010 for her courage in dealing with the treatment.
Nichole is currently studying at Blackburn College and dreams of becoming a physiotherapist. She undergoes a brain scan every few months at The Christie which will hopefully soon become just twice yearly. Nichole said: “By the time that I was diagnosed with a brain tumour, I was feeling so dreadfully ill that I can’t remember a lot of what went on at the time. “Getting through my exams at the time was hard work and the last couple of years have been incredibly tough with so much treatment and time spent in hospital. “But, thanks to research, I am still here.
“Success stories like mine would not be possible without the work of Cancer Research UK, which in turn relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life. “I absolutely loved Race for Life last year and the opportunity to raise money for Cancer Research UK. It will be a real honour to stand up in front of the women of Blackburn and hopefully inspire them to raise as much money as possible for the charity’s work.”
Her mum, Julie Bain, said: “We were so worried about Nichole as she became more and more ill and nobody had any idea what was wrong with her. “Being told she had cancer was just horrendous, but she got on with the treatment and that inspired us to keep going. “I took part in Race for Life last summer and will certainly be joining her once again in June to offer moral support.”
This year, organisers want 2,500 women and girls to put their best foot forward in Blackburn and help raise £95,000 for vital research. In 2011, 2,300 women took part in Race for Life in Blackburn and raised £85,000. Imogen Johnson, Cancer Research UK’s Blackburn Events Manager, said: “Come on ladies – please enter Race for Life in Blackburn today! It’s all of us versus cancer and we need you to join the fight as soon as possible. “Nichole Bain is an amazing ambassador for the charity and an incredible inspiration.” Imogen continued: “We know many women want to take part in Race for Life but are worried they won’t be able to complete the course.
Imogen, Nichole and Rachel at the launch of Blackburn's Race for Life
We want to reassure them that Race for Life is not about being fast or fit. Instead, it’s a celebration of sisterhood and hope. “Most women are able to walk 5k in an hour while chatting and having fun. The really startling fact is that in the same period of time, around four people in the North West will be diagnosed with cancer. ”
Cancer Research UK receives no Government funding for its ground-breaking research. So money raised through Race for Life is crucial to the pioneering work of doctors, nurses and scientists who are fighting cancer on all fronts. Imogen added: “We are very grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life in Blackburn last year and in the past. Thanks to them Cancer Research UK has been able to fund much-needed research. But the battle against cancer never stops and for this reason we need them to return to the fight in 2012 and bring new recruits with them.” Enter Race for Life online or call 0871 641 1111.
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