There are more than 130 known types of brain tumour. With this in mind, Chris Stonham, from Kent, set out to walk 131 miles in March for his Twilight Walk Own Walk. The walk was always planned to include Chris’s wife Nicky, who was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour in 2023. But sadly, the mum of one died in January, and her friends and family walked in her memory.
Sudden diagnosis
Nicky’s work colleagues would often say they would hear her before they saw her as she was always laughing or singing. She was kind, courageous, inspirational – always putting her family first.”
Chris
On May 14th 2023, Chris and Nicky, from Herne Bay, Kent, were enjoying a day out at Wembley for the Women’s FA Cup Final, when Nicky complained of a headache. She had no other symptoms. The following week, her headaches got worse, prompting the couple to go to A&E on 20th May. Chris said:
“Our worlds were torn apart with the news they had found a mass on her right temporal lobe.”
Nicky underwent her first craniotomy, at King’s Hospital London, just a few weeks later. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment followed. In April 2024, she had a second craniotomy after a new tumour was found. Nicky’s operations affected her sight, and after her second craniotomy she was registered partially sighted. Chris said:
“Throughout Nicky’s illness she remained positive, strong and always smiling, an inspiration to all.”
Clinical Trial
Nicky joined a medical trial following her second craniotomy to look at different treatments for secondary regrowth, as she was determined to help future brain tumour sufferers, no matter what her future held.
Unfortunately in November 2024, a scan revealed a new tumour on the left hand side of her brain. Chris and Nicky were told there was no chance of operating on the new tumour.
Nicky died on January 21st this year, leaving behind Chris and daughter Callie, 14.
The walk Nicky was unable to make
During Nicky’s illness, she and Chris discussed taking part in the Twilight Walk in London, but didn’t feel she would cope with the trip. They wanted to do their bit to raise awareness of brain tumours, though, so an alternative idea was formed.
“We liked to go for walks along the sea front in Herne Bay where we lived, and Ramsgate where I grew up,” explains Chris. “We talked about completing a mile for every type of tumour currently known.
“As Nicky became more ill, we talked about completing the walks with me pushing her in a wheelchair if needed. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen, due to her passing, and what was due to be a walk completed together, became a walk in memory of Nicky.”
Stepping out together
In March, Chris and Callie set out to tackle their ambitious 131 mile target, with friends and family only too happy to help. Chris said:
“Originally we had planned to walk every day, which meant we would need to complete just over 4 miles a day, but felt we needed a break so decided to do Monday to Saturday, completing 26 walks across the month at an average of 5 miles a day.
“I set the walks up so that four were completed with family & friends, and then two were completed as family only days, where our daughter’s school allowed her to join us during the week for those walks.
“My sister Carol wanted to support, but lives in Northampton, so completed the 131 miles there at the same time. And my best friend Gary joined every walk for the first couple of weeks, before flying out to Australia to see his brother, where he continued walking everyday to ensure he also completed the 131 miles.
“Nicky’s mum and mine joined all the walks in the towns where they lived.
“Over 70 friends and work colleagues joined throughout the month. On one walk, we had over 20 friends from my daughter’s old football team.
“I was reunited with works colleagues I hadn’t seen in over 25 years, joined by school friends that I hadn’t seen since leaving school in 1988, and some friends of Nicky that I had never met before – all wanting to help raise the awareness and be there to remember Nicky. Their support and words of comfort helped get me through the walks. Being able to share stories about Nicky from her childhood, through to her time working in M&S, to being a football mum for our daughter helped.
“For our final walk on the 31st March, my sister came down with her husband to join myself, our daughter, Nicky’s mum, sister and family, and my mum and partner for the final 5 miles.”
Raising £8770!
This incredible show of support also showed itself in generous donations to both Chris and his sister Carol, with their walks raising over £8700 so far. Chris said:
“We are overwhelmed by the donations made, and having walked with so many friends and family across the month made me realise how little was known about brain tumours and the Charity. The response to my story on my Just Giving page and the facts that I posted got people talking. Nicky’s story with no symptoms meant we felt that people needed to be made aware of brain tumours.
“The fact that my beautiful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, daughter in law, sister in law was taken too soon, by a disease that people know so little about, meant that we all felt we needed to do something to raise the awareness, which I believe we have helped do in some way.”
Find out more about Chris’s walk here.
Feeling inspired?
If you would like to devise your own challenge or take part in one that’s already planned, our community fundraising team is happy to support!