A man who participated in a marathon and later felt ill, thinking it was a hangover, was surprised to discover he actually had brain tumors. George Wade, aged 42, began experiencing symptoms following a day of drinking at Cheltenham races in Gloucestershire with friends in March last year. Initially attributing his sickness, severe headache, and memory loss to a hangover, he later faced left-sided weakness and facial drooping a month later.
Despite clear results from multiple tests, George’s wife urged him to consult with his brother-in-law, Dr. Caspar Wood, who arranged for an MRI scan as a precaution. To George’s astonishment, the scan revealed two brain tumors – a large one on the right side, likened to a tennis ball in size, and a smaller one in the middle, described as the size of a squash ball. The larger tumor was suspected to have been growing for two decades, causing symptoms due to its significant size.
Following an eight-hour debulking surgery and six months of chemotherapy, George now undergoes MRI scans every three months to monitor any potential growth. He has endured six surgeries on his skull and brain within the last 14 months. Despite the challenges, George feels physically stronger post-treatment, crediting a special diet and weight loss for his improved health.
Recently completing the London Marathon in 3 hours and 16 minutes, George raised close to £50,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity and the National Brain Appeal. He aims to reach a fundraising target of £100,000 by year-end through The Gavel Trail and Auction, orchestrated by The Bidpath Foundation and Wild In Art, set up by his employers post-diagnosis.
In this unique fundraising endeavor, auction houses are sponsoring the cause by commissioning artists to design and decorate one-meter-long gavels and blocks, creating an art trail displayed throughout September and October. The event will culminate in an auction at the Surveyors House in RICS Westminster, London. Pre-bidding is currently open online at the event’s website.
George expressed excitement about visiting various auction houses to view the gavels, particularly looking forward to revisiting Halls auctioneers where he began his career.