A man who participated in a marathon and later felt unwell attributed his symptoms to a hangover, only to discover that he was actually dealing with brain tumors. George Wade, aged 42, started experiencing health issues following a day of drinking at Cheltenham races in Gloucestershire with friends in March last year. Initially, he brushed off his sickness, including sensitivity to car headlights, severe headaches, and memory loss, as effects of a hangover.
As time passed, George’s condition worsened, with weakness on the left side of his body and facial drooping. Despite initial tests showing no concerns, his wife urged him to consult his brother-in-law, Dr. Caspar Wood, who arranged an MRI scan as a precautionary measure.
To George’s surprise, the MRI scan revealed two brain tumors – one large tumor on the right side, equivalent to the size of a tennis ball, and a smaller one in the middle, about the size of a squash ball. George learned that the larger tumor might have been growing for two decades before causing noticeable symptoms.
Following an eight-hour debulking surgery and six months of chemotherapy treatment, George now undergoes MRI scans every three months for monitoring. He has undergone multiple surgeries on his skull and brain in the past 14 months. Despite the challenges, George expressed feeling fitter and healthier after adopting a specialized diet and losing weight under the guidance of a nutritionist.
In a remarkable display of resilience, George completed the London Marathon earlier this year, raising nearly £50,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity and the National Brain Appeal. He aims to reach a fundraising target of £100,000 by the end of the year through The Gavel Trail and Auction organized by the Bidpath Foundation, a charity established by his employers.
The auction initiative involves auctioneers commissioning artists to decorate one-meter-long gavels and blocks, which will be displayed at various auction houses as an art trail throughout September and October. The grand auction event will be held at the Surveyors House in RICS Westminster, London, with pre-bidding available online.
George looks forward to visiting the gavels displayed at auction houses, especially Halls auctioneers, where he began his career.
