Burton Joyce woman takes on Great North Run for brain tumour charity after husband diagnosed with disease

A woman from Burton Joyce whose husband is bravely battling a brain tumour is set to take on a charity challenge to raise funds to help pay for research into the disease.

Mum-of-three Wenna Pietrantonio, pictured, above, plans to take part in the Great North Run to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity, after husband Franco was diagnosed with the disease.

Businessman Franco was told he has a large low-grade tumour after suffering a seizure in October 2016.

After having surgery, Franco now suffers from epilepsy and also needs regular scans to monitor the tumour’s growth.

41-year-old Wenna said she decided to raise money for the charity after learning brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

She said: “Franco is one of the lucky ones to have come through the other side.

“When I researched about the lack of funding for research into brain tumours, I was shocked. It is simply not enough!

“After training hard for the event, I’m going to do my very best to run 13 miles as quickly as I can and raise as much money as possible for Brain Tumour Research.”

Wenna will be among thousands of runners taking part in the annual Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon.

This year’s event takes place on September 9, with runners taking their marks in Newcastle city centre before setting off on the 13.1 mile course and finishing at the coast in South Shields.

A team of 42 will be taking part and raising money for the Brain Tumour Research charity which funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Carol Robertson, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful for Wenna’s support and wish her all the best for the event.

Franco’s story reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate and we hope he inspires others to fundraise for this woefully underfunded disease.

“Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers. We cannot allow this situation to continue.”

 To sponsor Wenna, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wenna-pietrantonio2

Key statistics on brain tumours:

• Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age
• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer
• Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours
• In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour
• Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia
• Brain tumours kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer
• Brain tumours kill more women under 35 than breast cancer
• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers

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