Orpington engineer takes on London Marathon for Brain Tumour Research after Dartford niece diagnosed following routine eye test at Specsavers
The uncle of a nine-year-old girl diagnosed with two brain tumours after an eye test is running the London Marathon to help families affected by the disease.
Layla Miller, of Waldeck Road, Dartford, found out she had two brain tumours following a routine optician appointment at Specsavers in 2021.
The youngster had been suffering from seizures and headaches for years which had been put down to a family history of migraines.
But during her eye test, a trainee optician discovered the Royal Park Primary pupil, who was seven at the time, had a raised optic nerve.
She was referred to hospital and after an MRI, medics discovered Layla had a large brain tumour and she was admitted to King's College Hospital in London within hours.
A follow-up scan showed two low-grade benign tumours on her brainstem.
Layla underwent a craniotomy, a form of brain surgery which involves removing part of the skull, and was in the operating theatre for 12 hours. She is now monitored with six-monthly scans.
Her uncle Mitchell Miller, from Orpington, is now taking part in the TCS London Marathon in aid of Brain Tumour Research after seeing what she went through
The repair engineer said: "It was a shock to everyone at first and post-op was really hard because her personality changed slightly, which we were warned could happen.
"Thankfully, now she is doing much better. I had always wanted to run the marathon but I did not have a good reason to until Layla.
"Then I watched it and, after everything that had happened, thought how I would love to do it for her and for the charity, which needs more money to invest in finding a cure.
"Layla is just one of many people going through this so I will be running, not just for her, but for everyone affected by a brain tumour, and for their families because it is hard on them too."
The 26-year-old will be hosting fundraisers to meet his target and has set up a JustGiving page. You can donate here.
He hopes to complete the 26.2 mile race in four and a half hours.
Mitchell added: "I like to think I am quite fit because I play football and run every now and again but I have never run a marathon or even a half-marathon so this will be a challenge.
"I have been running more over the last month and will soon be starting my 16-week training plan.
"I am running up to five times a week now and my legs are getting used to it so it is getting a bit easier, but I know it is going to get harder once I start adding more miles."
And he is not the first family member to take on a challenge for the charity.
Layla's aunt Scarlet Scorgie took part in Brain Tumour Research's November challenge to do 100 squats or star jumps every day for a month.
She raised just under £200 last year.