Connie Campbell, now 13, felt unwell after the rides during a family day out at Thorpe Park and started having headaches and being sick two days later
When 11-year-old Connie Campbell started vomiting and experiencing headaches after a day out at Thorpe Park, her mum Tina Smith believed a rollercoaster ride had “dislodged” a brain tumour. According to Tina, Connie initially felt unwell immediately following the rough ride and, two days later, symptoms became more obvious.
Doctors later confirmed a grade-four tumour was present, which Tina believes would have spread down her daughter’s spine if it hadn’t been disturbed by the ride. Connie was subjected to intensive brain surgery, followed by a gruelling regimen of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, forcing her to miss a year of school.
Now 13, Connie is in recovery and, in a show of solidarity, her 54-year-old mother is set to run a marathon to raise crucial funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Tina, a personal assistant from Woodford, London, said: “There’s a difference between getting thrown around a bit for fun and having your head ricochet so hard you don’t feel right after. Connie and I didn’t go on those rides again, but her dad and brother did.
“It was two days later that she started being sick, which seems too much of a coincidence for the two things not to be related. I suspect the rides dislodged her tumour and, if that’s the case, I’m glad because I was told we found it at a good time, before it spread to her spine.”
Tina, Connie, her dad and brother, went to the theme park during the August Bank Holiday in 2022. Connie underwent brain surgery in October of that year.
Connie, now in year nine, has suffered developmental delays because of her diagnosis and treatment. After deferring her London Marathon 2024 place due to a knee injury, Tina is upping her training to complete the 26.2-mile racecourse on Sunday, April 27.
She said: “My family can’t quite believe that I’m going to be running a marathon, they are very proud. I’d never considered doing one until recent years when I watched runners in London and with Connie’s diagnosis, the time feels right.”
Tina will be joined by her friend, Lucy Bradley, 48, also from Woodford. So far, they have raised more than £2,000 for Brain Tumour Research.
Tina added: “There’s so much that’s unknown about brain tumours and treatment is often invasive and harsh for patients, especially children. To answer the questions we have, such as what caused the brain tumour, how do we stop the cancer, and what other treatments are there, I’m going to run the London Marathon to raise awareness and much-needed funds to find these answers.”
Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “It’s desperately sad to hear about Connie’s diagnosis. In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour and just under 13% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 54% across all cancers.
“We’re determined to change that but it’s only by working together we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, a cure. We’re really grateful for Tina and Lucy’s support and will be there to cheer her across the finish line in April.”
