Teacher's half marathon for 'dear friend' lost to brain cancer

RUNNING IN MEMORY: Michelle O'Connell ran the Brighton Half Marathon for Brain Tumour Research (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

A teacher from East Sussex has run a half marathon in memory of a “dear friend” who died of brain cancer earlier this year. Michelle O'Connell, from Eastbourne, completed the Brighton Half Marathon on February 25, in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research.

She said: “My brother, Lee-James, signed me up for it in December, so I had about eight weeks to train. I took advice from friends who run, building up slowly from 5km and working through a variety of aches and pains in different body parts.

“On the day, I was fuelled by adrenaline and nerves. I started off running alongside Lee-James, who is training for a marathon in April, but we split to our own paces quite early.

“I kept finding the gaps until I reached a pace that felt comfortable and I high-fived every child with a hand out. It was freezing and they must have been so bored, so I made a point of darting about to reach as many as I could.

“It lifted my spirits to see the kindness of strangers but I looked like a spaghetti monster running all over the place waving my arms and legs, more interested in the supporters than the time as my aim was to ‘complete not compete’. I was relieved to reach the finish line and really proud to do it in two hours, 34 minutes.”

The mum-of-two is a science teacher and forest school leader at Priory School in Lewes and was inspired to take part in the 13.1-mile race by her former colleague Linda Goode, who was a passionate Brain Tumour Research campaigner. Linda, a mum-of-three and an identical triplet from Lewes, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) in October 2021.

The freelance PE teacher and advisor underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and remained stable until a scan last summer revealed her tumour had grown. Sadly, despite her continued efforts to fight the disease, she passed away in January, aged 51.

Michelle, 40, said: “When Linda’s cancer story hit, I was devastated and in complete denial, if anyone could beat anything it would be Linda. She was health conscious and believed anything was possible with the right mindset.

“She was inspiringly brave sharing her journey, the good, bad and ugly, most people hide away from the reality of living with cancer, but she saw it as an opportunity to show others how to respond in the face of adversity. She danced and encouraged everyone to live their best life, take every risk and regret nothing, make every memory and remember what is important in life, family and friends.”

Among Michelle’s supporters were her husband, Jason, and Linda’s husband, Phil. She said: “I had ‘Running for Linda Goode’ written on my back and in the last 2km I got a tap on my shoulder from a lady who said she knew Linda. That was the part in the race where we were digging deep, being pushed back by opposing ice winds along the sea front and it completely lifted me again.

“We jogged on a few hundred meters and then both of us turned the corner and found Phil. All three of us aligned in one moment and I knew Linda had a hand in it.

“I loved her dearly. The world lost an absolute diamond to this awful disease and the last thing I could do to honour her efforts was carry on the work she felt passionate about.

“I picked up the baton when she could run no more. I know it was her wish to keep the awareness drive going and to help fundraise for research.

“It’s just not good enough that, in this country, our funding of brain tumour research and advancement of technology in this area is so far behind others. Changing this is urgently needed because patients and their families don't have the luxury of time.”

She added: “Linda lived and breathed grit, determination, work ethic and drive. She also extended her prognosis for as long as she could by refusing to let go of hope.

“Her family continue to amaze me with the strength she showed them. She was an incredible woman touching the souls of so many, I hope I did her proud.”

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Linda was a ray of sunshine whose resilience and positivity was truly inspiring. Her diagnosis was the catalyst for family and friends to raise more than £30,000, enough to sponsor 11 days of research at any of our four Centres of Excellence, and it’s of little surprise to find them wanting to continue building on this legacy now that she’s passed.

“We remember Linda as we continue our efforts to find a cure for all types of brain tumours and are so grateful to Michelle for taking on this huge challenge for us. Together we will find a cure.”

To support Michelle’s fundraising, visit her JustGiving page here.

Location: Eastbourne.