A MUM of five who was told by doctors she was menopausal despite living with an undetected brain tumour has completed a daring charity abseil.
Karen Yardley, descended the famous Orbit sculpture – a 115-metre-high observation tower in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
Her feat of courage raised around £2,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity which she has worked with on a fundraising drive.
As we previously reported, the 52 year old was treated for the menopause for more than two years until she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to undergo life-saving surgery.
Karen, from Meriden, describing her abseil, said: “I am still struggling, I am not out of the woods yet.
“I think that’s why everyone was in tears when I landed, they know how important this is to me.
“Yesterday (June 13) was a year to the day I had my operation – the day I thought I had said goodbye to my children forever.
“So to complete the abseil with Sarah (Lindsell- chief executive of the Brain Tumour Charity) meant the world to me.”
In 2015, Karen began to have increasingly severe headaches, intense fatigue and eventually blurred vision and difficulty walking.
Doctors prescribed her treatment to relieve menopausal symptoms – without any tangible results.
After begging to see a neurologist, she was diagnosed with a tumour in March last year.
Her brain surgery was followed by a regime of physically altering and emotionally challenging treatment.
Now on the way to recovery, she has embarked on multiple charity ventures to raise money for brain tumour research and treatment.
She said: “Brain tumours and their terrible consequences need to be in the public eye and I will continue to raise awareness and tell my story.”
Karen has formed The Society of Brain Tumour Survivors and their Families to provide support for those affected by the condition.
She will throw her first society function in August with 80 seats available at a Gala dinner.
Coventry’s Lord Mayor, councillor John Blundell and Sarah Lindsell will be in attendance.
Karen’s family fun day in Meriden last month also raised around £1,200.
