My name is Hannah Louise Jones, and I was born on the 21.07.93 which makes me 16. I have recently started raising money for the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.
I was just like any other ordinary teenage girl, with many hobbies like piano, kungfu, gymnastics and skiing. I love my life and everyone in it. I started having small epileptic pauses which became worse in April 2008. I eventually got medication and it all settled down, I thought it was great, being back to normality, however the doctor requested I had a sleep deprived EEG and a brain scan just to eliminate the possibilities of my pauses being caused because of a slight risk of a brain tumour. The doctor however didn’t think anything would show up on the brain scan, it was just to be extra safe.
In the summer holidays of 2008 is when reality set out, on Friday the 8th of August to everyone’s shock and disbelief, I was told I had a brain tumour in my right temporal lobe and I should go into hospital on Sunday ready for an operation. At first I was so shocked and upset, why me? On the Sunday morning I insisted on working at the week-end job I had in a hotel before I went into hospital. Sunday came around very quickly and before I knew it I had everything set up and ready for my operation that Tuesday.
My first operation lasted 8hours, the surgeon at the hospital only managed to remove 5cm of tumour as he said he wasn’t confident to remove anymore as it was near my optical nerve and may have damaged my vision. It only took me 3days to recover from this operation, I then went home.
We had to go back in on the 19th of August for the results, to find that my tumour wasn’t cancerous! I was given the choice by a different surgeon who thought he could remove the rest of my tumour or the other option was to monitor it and see how it goes. I chose to have the operation.
So on the 28th of August I had my 2nd operation, everything went well and the surgeon managed to get my entire brain tumour out, I recovered well and came home after four days. I was just relieved everything had gone as perfect as can be.
I was at home recovering from my 2nd operation, still with my stitches in; when on the 4th of September I started to leak brain fluid, so back to the hospital I went. I was put onto a back drain, meaning I had to wait until my scar healed, and the leak sealed.
On the 15th of September whilst still being in hospital because of leaking brain fluid I was given the results from the tumour removed at the second operation and it was cancer! I kept strong and took the news in my stride. Without my friends, family and amazing staff at the hospital, I don’t think I would be so positive, but I am very grateful that I have all of these networks.
I started my chemo and radiotherapy on Monday the 29th of September; I had 6 weeks of radiotherapy and six cycles of chemotherapy. I didn’t really have much of a choice, but that’s the way it goes.
I want to share my experience and help others to be supported in difficult times.
On 4th February I went back into hospital as the tumour had reoccurred. They were successful in removing tumour plaques from an artery in my brain and inserting Gliadel Wafers into the site, but it didn’t go as well as the last time as I had a stroke following surgery. I couldn’t walk at first but am now recovering well at home with a small left-sided weakness. All the staff at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital were brilliant again. There are so many lovely staff and they are all so fantastic they make being poorly easier! Mr Mallucci and Dr Pizer are really amazing, so amazing! I told mum I was actually looking forward to going back into hospital to see all the staff. A lot of the staff have also supported the Trust by buying Hoodies.
I am having another scan on 30th June 2009, so I will keep you updated on events.
This is a picture of me and Molly- showing you can still have fun even when you’re on chemo! I’ve also got lots of photos of happy holidays we’ve been having in between treatments.
Thank-you to everyone who has helped, donated and supported me. With your help we can get one step further for research for a cure for this horrible disease.
If you wish to donate online please visit SDBTT – Hannah Louise Jones Fund
Petition
Sign up to the petition that is sent to the Prime Minister to push for more research into brain tumours please click here.
Fundraising
I want to raise lots of money and awareness of my umbrella fund because brain cancer is so rare and has so little funding. It is easy for people to say it gets little funds however action has to be taken quick if we are to overcome this cancer. 
2010
To find out more about Hannah, her fundraising efforts and her supporters, please go to http://www.hannahbananabraintumour.co.uk/
To purchase one of Hannah Banana’s hoodies at the bargain price of £20.00 (available in navy blue or pink) and raise much-needed funds for SDBTT please go to http://www.hannahbananahoodies.co.uk/
2009
It’s unbelievable how kind people are, friends, family and strangers are continuing to donate money, thank you so much, you’re all so kind.
As at today’s date (July 8th 2009) we’ve raised almost £30,000 and we’ve already started to spend the funds on research projects into high grade brain tumours.
I’d like to say a big thank you to Dan Allera of Allera Clothing Printers, for providing us with hundreds of hoodies and on a quick turnaround too. They’re brilliant for raising money and awareness.
The hoodies have the ‘Head to Head’ logo of Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust on the front, with “Support Hannah Banana” and “Support Brain Tumour Research” above and below the heads. We sell them for £20 each and they are made to order. Adult Sizes are: S, M, L, XL and XXL and they’re available in most colours. If you would like to purchase a Hannah Banana Hoody, please contact my Auntie Jan at: sdbtt.hannahbanana@googlemail.com
Logo on hoodies
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us; your help really makes a difference and by working together we can achieve so much more.
We now have a local restaurant “The Ship Inn”in Handbridge, who are sponsoring Hannah’s fund. They’re putting a raft in the River Dee raft race on 12th July, and will be contacting local businesses for sponsorship. Thank you so much!
Local Hero Award – Child of Courage
Hannah’s just won a local hero award – Dee 106.3’s “Child of Courage” – she’ll be going to an award ceremony on 16th July.
Huge thank you to:
Mike Houghton is currently training for the Chester Triathlon, Mike is super fit!
On 2nd May my Auntie Sue’s Belly Dancing teacher, Emma Wheate, held a Hafla near where my auntie lives in Redditch. There were many belly dancing troops and individuals who did some amazing dance routines. They held a raffle and auctioned some champagne. The event raised a fantastic £642 and at the end of the night I got to join in with some belly dancing too!
On May 17th 2009 Emma and Kay ran the Manchester 10K Marathon, Emma has only just had a baby so I think she was very brave taking on this challenge.
Emma
In June 2009, Claire Molyneux (Emma’s Sister) is doing ‘The three Peaks Challenge.’ She has been in training. Her Dad says the hardest thing is staying awake for that long but Claire assures us that she is used to partying all night so it won’t be a problem!
People at M&S Moneyhave also been working hard to raise Money. Kelly and Jeff have both run half marathons which raised £1000 which will be matched by HSBC’s charity scheme. A whole department is sponsoring the charity by doing various fund-raising activities throughout the year. They have been doing raffles, selling muffins, sponsored runs and walks and even bag-packing at Sainsbury’s in Chester. There’s also a big golfing event going to take place in September, which will raise funds for SDBTT and two other children’s charities and loads of staff at M&S Money have bought hoodies too!
Castell Alun School’s year 10 students have been fund-raising events and raised a fantastic £182.30.
The Kimnel Hotelin Llandudno have raised over £500 doing bingo and a silent auction. They have plans for further fund-raising too. Everyone is so kind.
On 3rd April my Nain arranged a choir concert at Cymau it was held in the Bethesda Chapel, the Cymau Male voice choir were brilliant, again the whole village seemed to turn out, I am so grateful. It was wonderful. Local musicians also played instruments and sang. My friend Sian sang a special song for me which was ‘Hero,’ she was so brave to get up and sing in front of everyone. Eleanor played the harp and Julia played the saxophone which was very jazzy and my Sister Molly played a tango on her violin I was so proud of her. The evening made over £1700 which is fantastic.
Cymau Male voice choir
On 17th March I attended a fundraising event at the Joya night club in St Annes which raised £768, this was organised by Diana & Mick Woods. It was amazing. There were fantastic singers; Loose ends (a group), Jenny Ball, Michael James & Jodie. Mick arranged ringside seats for mum and I (lovely comfy seats right in front of the stage!) I even got up for a On 17th March I attended a fundraising event at the Joya night club in St Annes which raised £768, this was organised by Diana & Mick Woods. It was amazing. There were fantastic singers; Loose ends (a group), Jenny Ball, Michael James & Jodie. Mick arranged ringside seats for mum and I (lovely comfy seats right in front of the stage!) I even got up for a dance. Everyone there was so nice! Fundraising is such fun.
The staff at Jewson’s at St Anne’s Blackpool have raised £500 from fundraising events- a swear box, non works uniform day etc, staff were even ‘fined’ for not making a cup of tea and had to donate money to the cause. Its fab!!
Hannah with Uncle Nige
On 2nd February 2009 a charity Sportsman’s eveningwas held at Aldo’s Bar in Liverpool. This function was organised by my Uncle Nigel and his friend, Mick. Ex Liverpool player, John Aldridge, was a very entertaining speaker. There was a Chinese banquet followed by an auction and raffle. There were some fabulous prizes such as signed photos and shirts of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, a signed Everton football and loads of other prizes.
The weather was terrible that night (with snow blizzards) but I attended the beginning of the event with my Mum, Dad and Sister, Molly, as I wanted to inform people about this disease and thank them for supporting brain tumour research. We got some funny looks as we three ‘girls’ walked in. I think they thought we were the entertainment. We left before the entertainment started but judging by my Dad’s photos it looks as if everyone had a good laugh with the comedian, Willie Miller. The event raised over £3000 which is amazing!!!
The staff from the neonatal unit at Derby donated £70 from a collection at Christmas which is great.
AFC Waverton Under 9 Jetshave been amazingly supportive. Their Under 8’s team and all their dads have bought hoodies and when the Under 9’s Jets team won their league they were presented with “Hannah’s Cup.” I was so pleased – I’m their number one fan – they’re brilliant! Here’s a photo of the team in their black hoodies……
Kids in their hoodies
And their Dads too!
On 15th January 2009, £300 was donated by the Women’s Guild, who had held a Charity lunch at Leeswood Flintshire; a further cheque for £250 a cheque was also donated .
Over £150 was raised by Edgehill University with a Christmas card collection organised by Mike Reynolds. Thank-you, better than sending cards!
My Auntie Sue and her friends Anne and Lindaraised £107 with a Bring & Buy and Tombola, at the Redditch Childminders AGM. They also raised a further £50 doing a car boot sale.
My friends; the Mellor family, raised £40, selling cakes during the interval of The Steels (a Chesterfest event.)
A pub in Mancot raised £60 with a quiz night.
2008
In November 2008 I went to see beyond the barricades at north Wales theartre and raise £384.40 through a collection made at the end of the performance.
The cast of this production also donated £150 from their company; they came out at the end to meet us and were all very lovely and supportive to my fundraising.
I have sold hundreds of hoodies at my school and in my area. They have the SDBTT face to face logo on them and say; “Support Hannah Banana (my nickname) and “support brain tumour research.” You see lots of people wearing them in and around Chester and many more people want them! My oldest hoody wearer is over 80 and the youngest is 9 months old. Just goes to show, not all hoodies are bad!
At my Cousins school a fete stall raised £70 for guessing the dog’s name.
My aunties work have become very involved in helping me fundraise at M and S money in Chester and through buying pins and taking part in a raffle they raised £570.10
A social evening at my friend’s house with a raffle raised £512 including a £150 cheque donated by saleeb
A coffee morning at a village near my nana raised £3433 with many events in the community centre. The whole village turned out to support me and many people were overwhelmed, it was the most people who have been in the community centre before.
Just before Christmas my close family members took to the streets of Liverpool to run the Liverpool Santa dash all dressed as Santa’s as me and my cousin collected amongst the crowds. All together raising above £1000.
My previous primary school had a retiring collection at their Christmas event raising £410.24
The marks and Spencer’s marketing department also held a raffle which raised £140.20
Family member and friends have also donated funds which have been much appreciated.
I am also very grateful to the trust for organizing for me to meet Mcfly before their gig, it was such a surprise and they were all gorgeous and I was quiet for once. Stunned!
I plan to continue my fund raising for the trust and spread much more awareness about brain tumours, I hope that my story has given more people a positive view about the situation and also how being positive can really help you to progress in life, never give in!