Laura Nuttall’s Incredible Fight and Great North Run Journey
Nothing about Laura Nuttall’s journey has been easy. Back in 2018, when she was just 22, she was told she had terminal brain cancer. Many people would have seen that as the end of the road. But not Laura. She decided to tackle one of the UK’s toughest running challenges—the Great North Run, a half-marathon that pulls in tens of thousands of participants every year.
On September 7, 2022, Laura joined the massive crowd, but she set herself apart by running side-by-side with her family. The 13.1-mile distance is a huge ask for anyone—not just for someone fighting an aggressive illness. Despite her diagnosis and all the physical hurdles, Laura pushed through every mile, determined to cross the finish line. It wasn’t just about running; it was about showing that a diagnosis doesn’t define your spirit.
People watching her that day saw not just a brave young woman, but also her support network—her family right there with her, step for step. It’s hard to overstate just how much grit that takes. Every mile she covered was one more act of defiance against her illness, and an act of hope for others in similar battles.
The Great North Run’s Bigger Purpose and Ongoing Fundraising
The Great North Run is a world-famous event, known as much for its charity work as the race itself. For years, it’s been a way for people to give back—especially to causes close to their hearts, like brain cancer research. Stories like Laura’s echo those of others, including Alex Dawson, another brain tumour patient who’s raised over £26,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity since his own diagnosis in 2020. These personal battles fuel broader movements, mobilizing communities and drawing more attention to critical research needs.
The event’s popularity keeps surging—so much that the next edition, planned for September 2025, sold out long before race day. Runners aren’t just signing up for a medal. They’re pledging to raise a minimum of £395 for groups such as Brain Tumour Research. These are not just symbolic numbers. Each pound helps fund research, support services, and awareness campaigns that might one day change the outcome for people like Laura.
Even if every runner’s story doesn’t make headlines, their combined efforts move the needle. The Great North Run remains a symbol of what’s possible when people rally for a cause—facing pain, defying odds, and coming together in pursuit of something bigger. Thanks to Laura Nuttall and others taking on this enormous task, there’s a growing sense that no one faces brain cancer—or any tough diagnosis—alone.
- Great North Run continues as a major annual platform for health and charity campaigns.
- Personal stories like Laura Nuttall’s motivate others to get involved and support patients with brain cancer.
- Fundraising targets push participants to maximize their contributions, powering more research and patient support programs.
