Brad Foster's - DI4K Commitment
The 140.6 challenge for KIDS foundation
Brad Foster’s Journey, living with a Brain Tumor for over 10 years has inspired him to help others.
In 1998 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I flew to Sydney to meet a neurosurgeon, Dr Bernard Kwok, he explained that I had a brain tumor the size of a lemon. The following day he performed a 13 hour operation. After being chopped from ear to ear I survived with only the loss of my sense of smell. Although the road to recovery was hard I had a new respect for life “live life to the fullest”.
I have regular scans to monitor the growth of the residue left after the operation. Unfortunately the tumor began to regrow and I had to have another operation in August 2004. The new tumor was the size of a golf ball, but this time they only had to cut half my head open. The operation took 7 hours, but unfortunately Dr Kwok was unable to get all the tumor because it was in the optic canal, so we knew it would grow back at some stage again.
After a scan and check up in march 2008 the nightmare continued, the tumor was growing again. So in July 2008 I had my third brain operation, it took 6 hours following the same scar line as the first 2 operations. As with the previous operations Dr Kwok couldn’t remove the whole tumor because of its critical location. This will now continue, because of the tumors position it can’t be removed surgically.
On the 29th September I begin a 6 week program of radiation in Sydney. We are hoping that small doses of radiation over a longer period might save what sight I have left in my right eye. Hopefully the radiation treatment will end this torment that I and my beautiful family have had to endure.
But out of something bad there comes something good, which leads me to the challenge of raising 140.6 thousand dollars for The KIDS Foundation, by completing the 140.6 mile Ironman race in April 2009.
The KIDS Foundation is dedicated to childhood injury prevention and injury recovery and is the official charity for the Australian Ironman Triathlon. It is through the Injury Prevention program that the KIDS Foundation delivers safety education programs to pre-schools and primary schools, seeking to reduce child injuries and death. Through the Recovery Program it specializes in providing quality rehabilitation services, resources and new opportunities for young people recovering from burns and other life-changing injuries together with support for their families.
After meeting some of the most courageous and inspirational children from the KIDS Foundation that had received burns from horrific accidents, I decided I would take on a challenge that would not only give me a reason to focus on my survival but also to help others also enduring continuing operations. One 14 year old girl I met had received over 80 operations in the past ten years.
Susie O’Neill the Founder of the KIDS Foundation said she was delighted to receive such support and enthusiasm from a fellow Ironman competitor that cared about others at a time of his own suffering.
"Wish me luck"
To view the media coverage of Brad's half iron man race, click the following link: http://www.portnews.com.au/news/local/news/general/want-courage-go-to-brad-foster/1355653.aspx#
TO DONATE TO THE KIDS FOUNDATION CLICK HERE