Rachel Bown Champion Fund

The Rachel Bown Fund is raising money and awareness for Brain Tumour Support because Rachel is a survivor, and to bring hope and encouragement to others.

Rachel tells us why she decided to set up her Champion Fund

Rachel’s current fundraising total is £7,000

The Rachel Bown Fund is raising money and awareness for Brain Tumour Support because Rachel is a survivor, and to bring hope and encouragement to others.

​Rachel is a PE teacher and triathlete competing at international level. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in the summer of 2014.

After surgery in December 2014 to remove the tumour she faced life-threatening post-op complications, but she battled her way back to fitness within just six months in order to take up her place at the 2015 Triathlon European Championships in Geneva in July 2015.

Rachel explains ‘The Butterfly Within’

I have given a lot of thought to butterflies in the last couple of months and have compared myself to them in a number of ways!

1. Firstly the philosophical idea is that before my diagnosis I was a caterpillar. During my illness, I became a chrysalis, trapped and unable to spread my wings and now I am emerging as a butterfly.
2. Secondly, I sense that I’ve become the ‘hungry caterpillar’. Munching on life and getting fat!…but next year I will transform into a fit beautiful butterfly.
3. Thirdly, the importance of the butterfly effect. The idea is that a butterfly flutters its wings on one side of the world and the effects are seen on the other side. During my illness, I recognised how my behaviour affected others and that’s why I wanted to emit positivity.