Heidi Taking On 24-Hour Trek To Raise Funds In Memory Of Tragic Mum Elaine

Tuesday, 8 February 2022 06:00

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

A woman who lost her mum to a brain tumour is walking solo for 24 hours to raise money for Brain Tumour Research and help find a cure for the deadly disease.

Thirty-two-year-old Heidi Clevett, from Southsea, will be walking the Isle of Wight coast this April in memory of her mother, Elaine Clevett, from Littlehampton, Sussex.

Elaine died in December 2021, just four months after being diagnosed with an aggressive Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).

Family and friends first noticed the always chatty Elaine ‘acting strange’ and appearing quieter than usual during her granddaughter Ivy’s second birthday celebrations.

After first thinking she may be exhausted, Elaine’s family kept a close eye on her. A week later and after no improvement in her behaviour, daughter Heidi and husband, Dave, 62, took her to Worthing Hospital A&E.

Elaine received a brain tumour diagnosis at Worthing Hospital

A CT scan revealed Elaine had a tumour on her brain the size of an apple and would need an operation.

Six weeks after her symptoms first started, Elaine had a craniotomy at Brighton Hospital and was in surgery for four hours. Surgeons noticed the tumour had spread to both hemispheres of her brain.

Following a string of complications, she was moved to Fulford Care and Nursing Home close to where she lived with her husband, Dave.

Elaine died on 1 December 2021, having survived 15 days with no food or water.

Fun loving Elaine was described as 'chatty' by friends and family.

In April, mum-of-one Heidi is set to walk the 106km distance around the Isle of Wight within 24 hours, raising money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of Elaine.

Speaking of the challenge, Heidi said:

“What happened to my mum didn’t seem fair and I want to be able to put my mind to something positive.

“Research on this type of cancer is extremely difficult, in part due to only 25% of glioblastoma patients surviving more than one year.

"There is currently very little understanding of the disease, no understanding of the cause and minimal treatment options available to those afflicted.”

Heidi will be undertaking her 24-hour challenge on April 30 and May 1

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

Heidi has so far raised around £3,200 of her £5,800 target and is accepting donations through her JustGiving page.