Beddau Father's Life Transformed by Brain Tumor Diagnosis
Life changed dramatically for Beddau resident and father of two, Lewis Goodfield, when he received a diagnosis of a grade two glioma in June. The 37-year-old services engineer had initially been hospitalised for abdominal problems before the shocking discovery was made.
Lewis recalled the moment: "I collapsed in pain while in hospital and nurses thought I'd experienced a seizure. Then a CT scan revealed a mass on my brain. It was an enormous shock – not just for me, but for all my friends and family too, and it really hit me hard."
Successful Surgery and Challenging Recovery
Following his diagnosis, Lewis underwent a successful awake craniotomy procedure in July to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Over the past several months, he has been adapting to a new normal with what he describes as the "incredible" support of his wife, Keeley.
The recovery process has involved managing sensitivities to noise and bright lights while working diligently to rebuild his memory function. Guided by his personal motto "Never give up," Lewis is now channeling his energy into a remarkable physical challenge.
Personal Twilight Walk for Brain Tumour Awareness
Lewis is currently preparing for a 30km Twilight Walk scheduled for March 14th to mark Brain Tumour Awareness month. He acknowledged the difficulty ahead: "Walking 30km will be tough for me, considering I'm still under investigation for my abdominal pain, yet mentally I feel strong. I know I will complete this challenge."
The route holds deep personal significance, covering his home village and areas where he used to walk with his grandfather as a young boy. What began as a personal challenge has evolved into a substantial community event, with forty friends and family members now committed to joining him.
Community Support and Social Media Impact
Lewis explained his motivation: "As someone who loves the outdoors, creating my own Twilight Walk was a perfect challenge for me. I designed a route that covers my entire village and surrounding area. These are places where my grandfather and I walked many times when I was younger, so it's very close to my heart."
He continued with evident emotion: "Since I started planning this walk, I've been joined by forty others. It means the world to me that so many close friends and family will be walking alongside me, with even more people planning to join for the final two miles, including Keeley and our two children."
By sharing his journey openly on social media, Lewis has encouraged others in his community to speak about their own health struggles. He observed: "After I posted my story online, it's been surprising how many people have opened up and discussed their own health issues. It feels good to share my experience to give others confidence both mentally and physically, and to encourage them to keep fighting."
Fundraising Success and Charity Appreciation
The couple has already exceeded their initial £2,000 fundraising target through their dedicated JustGiving page. Lewis expressed his gratitude: "I'm so thankful to everyone who has donated. The fundraising I'm doing shows support and appreciation for everything The Brain Tumour Charity does. Since I know I will be forever looked after by them, this will become a permanent part of my life."
Stacey Vincent from The Brain Tumour Charity praised the couple's efforts in helping to improve survival rates and support services. She stated: "A massive thank you to Lewis and Keeley for their incredible efforts. We wish them all the very best with their walk next month."
Vincent highlighted the ongoing challenge: "Every single day in the United Kingdom, thirty-four people hear the devastating words 'you have a brain tumour' – and unlike many other cancers, survival rates have not improved significantly over the past four decades. We are leading the charge to change this reality and are truly fighting brain tumours on all fronts through our comprehensive work."
She added: "It's through the extraordinary efforts of people like Lewis and Keeley that we can hope to change these shocking statistics in the future and bring genuine hope to the thousands of people diagnosed with a brain tumour each year."
The Brain Tumour Charity remains the United Kingdom's largest organisation dedicated exclusively to funding research and raising awareness for earlier diagnosis of brain tumours.
