A mum-of-three from East Lothian will run the iconic Boston Marathon in April, 2025, to raise funds in memory of a colleague who lost her life to a brain tumour.
Gemma Teague, 39, from North Berwick, will aim to complete the 26.2 mile course on 21 April 2025 as the final leg of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star challenge. Gemma began her marathon journey as a personal goal but now dedicates her efforts to the memory of Anne Henderson, a beloved colleague who died from a brain tumour in 2018.
Gemma, an advanced physiotherapy practitioner, said: “Anne was such a shining light in our team. Her diagnosis was a devastating blow, and she fought so bravely, but the disease was relentless. It was the morning of the New York Marathon when I found out she had sadly succumbed to the tumour. Six years later, running the Boston Marathon for the charity Brain Tumour Research is my way of honouring her memory and contributing to the fight against this cruel disease.”
Anne, who worked alongside Gemma in Edinburgh’s Community Respiratory Team, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumour, in May 2018. Despite undergoing surgery and treatment to fight it, she died just six months later at the age of 51. Anne is survived by her husband, Barry Henderson, and three daughters.
Gemma’s Abbott World Marathon Major journey began with the New York Marathon in 2018. Since then, she has completed major marathons in London, Berlin, Chicago, and Tokyo. She had difficulty securing a place in the Boston Marathon, but the opportunity appeared through BBC Scotland’s Political Editor, Glenn Campbell, who has been battling his own brain tumour since 2023.
“It’s amazing how it all came together,” said Gemma, adding:
“My friend Lesley sent me a snapshot of Glenn’s Facebook post saying he had secured a place for the marathon and was looking for applications. When I saw it was for Brain Tumour Research, it felt like fate.
“My Six Stars marathon journey started with Anne and her battle with a brain tumour so it’s quite fitting to finish it by raising money for a charity connected to her story. I reached out to Glenn immediately, spoke to people who might know him, and shared my passion for why this opportunity meant so much to me. When I got the email saying I’d been chosen, I couldn’t quite believe it. If Anne were still here, she’d probably think I’m crazy for doing this, but I know she’d be cheering me on every step of the way.”
Gemma’s fundraising efforts will go towards a new Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, scheduled to open in 2025. The centre, a collaboration between Brain Tumour Research and Beatson Cancer Charity, will focus on accelerating research into glioblastoma.
Gemma adds: “Knowing the money and awareness I’m raising will go towards this new centre, dedicated to researching glioblastomas like the one Anne died from, makes it more special. It’s something that could directly benefit families and friends here in Scotland. I know Anne would have been the first to put herself forward for any research that could make a difference. This feels like a way to carry on her legacy while helping to fund hope for others.”
Carol Robertson, national events manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re so grateful to Gemma for taking on this incredible challenge. Glioblastoma is a devastating disease with an average survival time of just 12 to 18 months. The funds raised by Gemma and others will not only advance research into glioblastomas but also help establish Scotland as a leader in this critical area of cancer research. We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way in Boston.”
Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
To support Gemma’s fundraising efforts, visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/gemma-teague-1734367704647
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
