Dominique racking up miles for charity’s research into cancer
A mum diagnosed with a brain tumour weeks after giving birth to her second child is taking on a second major challenge for charity.
In 2020, Dominique Nicholson, from Bagworth, raised money for the Brain Tumour Charity by walking around Thornton Reservoir – until lockdown intervened and she had to walk around her village on her own.
This month, she is taking on the equivalent of two Olympic triathlons in and around Bagworth.
The challenge, which will comprise 3km of swimming, 80km of bike riding and 20km of running, is again in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity.
With the support of family and friends, Dominque will be eating away at the challenge bit by bit.
“I will be doing the miles – and maybe more – as and when I can throughout the month,” she said.
“If I’ve got a spare 20 minutes, I’ll have a bike ride or a run just to eat away at the miles.
“I use the exercise as a relaxation and an aid to my mental health. It helps so much if I’ve had a bad day.”
So far, the mum has raised more than £1,600 for the Brain Tumour Charity, but is calling on people to donate what they can.
“I’m just trying to raise as much as possible and doing my all to help anyone else in my situation cope and help prevent people from going through what I’ve had to,” she said.
“If it helps just one person, then that’s amazing.”
Dominque was given the news about her cancer after suffering a series of headaches throughout and shortly after her second pregnancy.
Doctors initially believed an enlarged blood vessel was the cause.
Dominique, who was 30 at the time, said: “I didn’t worry too much at first as I was told these things can happen during pregnancy.
“Then when I was breastfeeding with Erin the headaches continued.
“I couldn’t take much in the way of anything to stop them and hoped they’d go away.”
However, the headaches got progressively worse and Dominique began to feel ever more sick. She was also suffering from pain behind her eyes caused by the headaches.
It was at this point she went to her doctors, where a grade II meningioma was diagnosed.
Told that there was a mass on her brain that needed operating on, Dominique was left in shock.
“I’d just turned 30 and to be told this was so scary. I could not believe it,” she said.
“My main thought was that I wasn’t going to see my children grow up.”
Within days of her diagnosis at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Dominique was transferred to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre to prepare for craniotomy surgery. “I hadn’t ever stayed in hospital before – pregnancy aside – and had never had an operation.
“I was trying to make it as positive an experience as possible as I was so scared of what could happen.”
The surgery, which was on the same day as her elder daughter Freya’s graduation from nursery, was a success, removing between 97 and 99 per cent of the tumour.
However, it left a scar running from the middle of her forehead to her right ear.
“I count my blessings every day,” she said. “Friends and family can’t keep up with me as I try to make every day special for me and my kids.
“I want to make new memories all the time.”
Now in recovery with no complications, Dominique will need regular brain scans for the rest of her life, but is determined to ensure others do not become suddenly ill with a brain tumour like she did.
Donations to Dominique’s fundraiser can be made online at: