An 11-year-old girl was diagnosed with a brain tumour after a rollercoaster ride at Thorpe Park seemingly “dislodged” the growth, triggering symptoms, according to her mother. Connie Campbell, now 13, from Woodford, East London, began feeling ill following the thrill rides on a family trip to the theme park and started experiencing headaches and sickness two days later.
Her mum Tina Smith, 54, believes that the intense jolting of the ride caused the tumour in Connie’s brain to shift, leading to her daughter’s sudden illness. The incident led to the discovery of the grade-four cancer just in time before it could spread to Connie’s spine.
Following the diagnosis, Connie had to undergo brain surgery and endure radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, which resulted in her missing an entire year of school.
The cancer was caught just before spreading to Connie’s spine
Now, Tina – a personal assistant and mother of two – is lacing up her running shoes to participate in a marathon aimed at fundraising for Brain Tumour Research. Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Tina said: “There’s a difference between getting thrown around a bit for fun and having your head ricochet so hard you don’t feel right after.”
She added that neither she nor Connie returned to such rides, although Connie’s father and brother did. Tina can’t help but connect the dots between the theme park visit and Connie’s subsequent sickness, stating, “It was two days later that she started being sick, which seems too much of a coincidence for the two things not to be related.”
She harbours a suspicion that the rides played a role in dislodging her daughter’s tumour, expressing a bittersweet relief: “I suspect the rides dislodged her tumour and, if that’s the case, I’m glad because I was told we found it at a good time, before it spread to her spine.”
Connie underwent several rounds of intense treatments
The family, including Tina, Connie, her dad, and brother, had visited Thorpe Park during the August Bank Holiday in 2022, with Connie undergoing brain surgery by October. Connie, a year nine student, has faced developmental challenges due to her condition and treatment. Her mother Tina had to postpone her participation in the London Marathon 2024 because of a knee injury but is now ramping up her training to tackle the iconic 26.2-mile course on Sunday, April 27.
She shared: “My family can’t quite believe that I’m going to be running a marathon, they are very proud. I’d never considered doing one until recent years when I watched runners in London and with Connie’s diagnosis, the time feels right.”
Tina will not be alone in her endeavour; her friend Lucy Bradley, 48, from Woodford, will be joining her. Together, they have already raised over £2,000 for Brain Tumour Research.
Connie’s mum Tina is running the London Marathon to raise money for Brain Tumour Research
Tina further commented: “There’s so much that’s unknown about brain tumours and treatment is often invasive and harsh for patients, especially children. To answer the questions we have, such as what caused the brain tumour, how do we stop the cancer, and what other treatments are there, I’m going to run the London Marathon to raise awareness and much-needed funds to find these answers.”
Carol Robertson, the national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “It’s desperately sad to hear about Connie’s diagnosis. In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour and just under 13 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 54 per cent across all cancers.”
She continued: “We’re determined to change that but it’s only by working together we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, a cure. We’re really grateful for Tina and Lucy’s support and will be there to cheer her across the finish line in April.”
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