'Running against my former self' for brain charity

A running enthusiast who underwent life-saving surgery to remove a brain tumour is aiming to beat the ParkRun personal best time he set 14 years ago.

Ross Fripp from Fareham had a tumour removed when he was aged 25 in 2014, and had further treatment when it recurred earlier this year.

As part of his fundraising effort for neurology charity Smile4Wessex, he is aiming to beat his previous best time of 16 minutes 58 seconds for a 5k run, which he achieved in 2012.

He said trying to match a personal best from his early 20s at the age of 37 was "an enormous challenge".

Fripp was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014 after suffering frequent bouts of sickness over a 15-month period.

He underwent emergency surgery to remove a 4cm ependymoma from the fourth ventricle of his brain and spent 10 days in intensive care, including eight on a ventilator.

The months following the operation were "the toughest" he said he had ever faced, as he was tube fed and effectively had to relearn how to talk and walk.

He said: "The worst period was after a week lying in intensive care and not really getting better - and thinking 'is this how i'm going to be forever?'

"The consultants can't tell you - they don't know.

"You just hold on to the hope that things will get better."

The surgery left him with significant balance problems, double vision, and an inability to swallow or move his tongue.

He was eventually able to continue his career as a chiropractor, but a paralysed vocal chord meant he was unable to resume his passion for running, although was able to cycle.

"I just carried on trying a run every now and again. After six or seven years the vocal chord seem to have got better," he said.

Fripp has just completed a course of radiotherapy after the tumour was found to have recurred earlier this year.

Despite the recent treatment, he is currently in training six nights a week with colleagues at Southampton Athletic Club, aiming to take part in a ParkRun or other 5k run later this year.

He described the challenge as "racing against my younger self".

"To try and beat my personal best its going to be very tough - I know I'm there or thereabouts."

He has so far raised more than £5,000 for Smile4Wessex, the charity that supports the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General Hospital.

The charity raises funds to provide state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and treatments at the centre.

It also sponsors pioneering research into treatments for a variety of neurological conditions.

"I feel the level of care I got has been absolutely fantastic," Fripp said.

"It's right to give something back and recognition just for the staff being fantastic and saving my life twice."