Brain tumour survivor set to complete the ‘big six’ of world marathons

22 February 2024 | Fundraising, Blog, Event, News, Supporters

Long-time Brain Tumour Support fundraiser, Robin-Mark Schols is taking on the Tokyo Marathon this March.

Robin takes on Tokyo

Over the last decade, Robin-Mark has ticked off five out of the six most prominent World Marathons – London, New York, Boston, Berlin and Chicago – and he’s now set to complete the list with Tokyo.

Robin was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2009. Due to the tumour’s size, he had an operation within days, which was a success and, despite also having to get through pneumonia while in hospital, once home he made a steady recovery. During that time he re-evaluated his health, lost weight and started running to get fit. He took to running much better than he expected and within months joined a club and started entering organised events and marathons. However, in 2015 he had to face another health battle.

He recalls, “Sadly, after my London Marathon in 2015, I suffered a major setback with a massive brain infection and once again needed an emergency operation to save my life. During this op the surgeon had to remove a section of infected skull bone, to be replaced eventually by a titanium plate. In the meantime I was to wear a helmet to protect my brain.”

This was the trigger for his determination to help promote brain tumour awareness and raise funds, and in 2016, he ran the Bath Half Marathon wearing his protective helmet and the Brain Tumour Support colours. The following year he created the four mile Hilly Helmet Challenge, an event designed to raise awareness of the need for some brain tumour patients to wear a helmet in their treatment and recovery. For the last seven years (and it’s back for its eighth in the summer) runners from the Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol area have donned fantastically inventive helmet creations, in order to raise awareness and much needed funds for Brain Tumour Support. You can sign up to the eighth Hilly Helmet race today!

Robin talked proudly of his achievement with Hilly Helmet, when he won a BBC Make a Difference Award in 2022, in recognition of his volunteering and fundraising.

“The support I’ve had for the run from the local community over the past six years has just been incredible. I’m happy it has proved to be so popular, as it gives people the chance to come together for something positive and educate them about Brain Tumour Support at the same time – it’s cemented itself in people’s race diaries as well, which is lovely. I’ve managed to twist enough people’s arms so that every penny raised goes directly to the charity so I can look people in the eye and say that this is a true fundraising event, with the charity receiving the full amount.”

Over the years Robin’s incredible fundraising efforts have raised almost £25,000, and he hopes this next challenge in Tokyo can help to raise thousands more. Preparation for the event has not been an easy journey, but Robin remains determined to do himself and Brain Tumour Support proud.

“Training hasn’t been easy since October as I’ve battled a heel problem (and I’m getting older!) but I am experienced and resilient enough to get through and would love to mark the six star achievement by raising funds and awareness for the charity Brain Tumour Support and hope you will support me in what will be my last world major marathon and perhaps my final full marathon.”

You can donate to Robin’s Just Giving page here, and see his training updates ahead of the race on Sunday 3rd March.