A Belfast mum has opened up on her running journey after the removal of a brain tumour. Tracey Atkinson took up running after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008, later having surgery in late 2011.
The 46-year-old is now undertaking 12 races in 12 months in 12 countries, with the funds raised going towards Reach, a charity providing support for children and young people with an upper limb difference and their families.
Tracey was inspired by her daughter India Sasha who was born with a limb difference, with the family wanting to continue raising awareness.
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Opening up on her brain tumour diagnosis, Tracey told Belfast Live: "I had taken a career break from the Civil Service to do a degree, I just had my third daughter. In the second year of my degree, I started having blackouts. I sort of dismissed it, thinking it was maybe stress with having three children under 5 [and] doing a degree, but when it came to my final year, it started to become more frequent.
"Often I was like absent when you would be speaking to me. I went to the GP to discuss it and they referred me to the hospital. They did an MRI scan because I previously had a brain aneurysm at the age of 9, they were worried that it was anything related. The neurologist then confirmed that I actually had a brain tumour.
"They initially said it was too dangerous to do surgery, that I could possibly lose my speech or hearing. They said medication for three years to control seizures. This was around 2008 when the seizures started."
The mum-of-three added: "I ended up doing my own research about brain surgery because I felt I was getting worse, the seizures were coming like three times a week. The neurologist said that he would have a look into it and then agreed about doing the surgery, but the thing was, the surgery was never done in Northern Ireland before. I had to be referred to Liverpool for a functional MRI.
"They done a functional MRI were they tried to map the brain, they would ask me questions while I'm in a machine to see where the brain works, so you wouldn't verbally answer the questions, you'd press a button, yes or no, right hand or left hand.
"They were mapping the brain to know where, I suppose, the glitch in the brain was coming from, so they knew where to operate."
A team of surgeons then came to Northern Ireland three months later and Tracey underwent brain surgery.
She explained: "To prepare for the surgery, they said to me 'you need to be physically and mentally fit for it' so that's when I had hit the treadmill in preparation.
"I was the first one in Northern Ireland to have the surgery done were my head was in a cage and I had to be awake and speak while they were removing the tumours so that they could identify I didn't lose my hearing or speech."
Ever since, running became a part of Tracey's daily routine and she has now completed four marathons.
The Belfast woman's challenge for Reach charity began in January, running the Marrakesh Half Marathon alongside her daughter India while on a family holiday. Tracey finished first in her age group in the race.
In February, she competed in the Gap of Dunloe 10k in Co Kerry, placing second overall and first place female. Up next for Tracey is the Paris Half Marathon.
She said: "It's sort of like a bucket list. Combining my passion for running with a charity that's close to our hearts.
"I started off, it was all about really survival for surgery... that was when running began really, it was I suppose like a coping mechanism to deal with surgery."
Tracey, who was awarded the Unsung Heroine Award last year at the Local Women Sports awards, has also created her own running group.
She said: "In November, I started a mums' running club... I noticed women being afraid to run, recent attacks on women, I thought on Monday nights, I'll advertise getting mums out on the run.
"I started Mums on the Run in Belfast, with glow sticks and music, just something fun to do, to promote health. I linked up with Black Mountain Shared Space Project for their facilities, so they're helping me support it. That's every Monday."
In addition to her 12 races in 12 months, Tracey will be taking part in the Belfast Marathon in May. She said: "My friend was diagnosed with cancer, so I'm running Belfast Marathon for her, it's like 13 races really that I'm doing."
Tracey will end her challenge for Reach charity with the Valencia Marathon in December.
You can donate to Tracey’s 12 races, 12 months, 12 countries in 2025 challenge here.
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