Friday, 21 April 2023
A former University of Nottingham student and brain tumour survivor has raised thousands of pounds for a charity close to her heart.
Flora Bouchier, who graduated with a MEng degree in Chemical Engineering in 2022, completed the Manchester Marathon in under four hours on Sunday 16 April 2023 in aid of Brain Tumour Research.
Diagnosed with a grade 1 glioneuronal in April 2016 after experiencing nausea, hot flushes and partial seizures, Flora underwent surgery to have the tumour removed but suffered from post-operative depression, which had a severe impact on her life until she went to university and started getting back into sport.
When I was ill, I didn’t exercise for a long time. I really struggled to get out of bed and was quite unhappy with myself. I put on lots of weight because I was so inactive, but now I’m feeling fitter than ever, loving life and happy to be able to run around.
Flora continued: “It’s a bit of a lifestyle change training for a marathon. I was putting so much of my time into it and having to eat so much because I was constantly hungry. I was also having to be strict with my sleep because getting less than eight hours and having to do a long run isn’t fun.”
Upon finishing the marathon in three hours and 58 minutes, Flora enjoyed a brownie and a beer at the finish line.
She added: “I’m very happy with my time, I signed up for a half-marathon three weeks before and got 1:52:30, so I started thinking sub four might be possible, and, in the end, decided to go for it.
“I managed 1:55 for the first half but started feeling queasy after 20 miles because I hadn’t drunk enough water. I did a bit of maths and worked out how much time I had left and how much I could afford to slow down. When I was three miles from the finish, I knew I could comfortably achieve sub-four hours and was able to enjoy the last couple of miles.
“I definitely want to keep running because I really enjoy being active and am super fit at the moment, but I think I’d rather run more as a hobby and do it when I want to, rather than because I have to.”
So far, Flora’s raised £2,850, smashing her initial target of £2,000, and donations are continuing to pour in.
I'm thrilled to hear that Flora has completed her marathon and raised a fantastic amount of money for Brain Tumour Research at the same time.
Chris continued: "She's always been an inspirational fundraising champion as well as an outstanding talent academically - winning the prestigious Salters Insitute Prize during her time at Nottingham. I'd like to congratulate her on her latest achievement."
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Flora is an inspiration and should be rightly proud of what she’s achieved. We’re so grateful for all her support. Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia and any other cancer, yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Together we will find a cure.”
To donate to Flora’s fundraiser, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/flora-bouchier
Story credits
More information is available from Danielle Hall, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham, at danielle.hall@nottingham.ac.uk
Images supplied by: Brain Tumour Research
About the Faculty of Engineering
Made up of six departments – Architecture and Built Environment, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering and Foundation Engineering and Physical Sciences – the university’s Faculty of Engineering is home to more than 5,600 students and 800 staff.
The faculty, which has educated engineers and architects for more than 140 years, was the first in the country to be accredited with an Athena SWAN Gold Award for excellence in advancing gender equality across higher education and research and is home to multiple state-of-the-art facilities, including the recently opened £40m Power Electronics and Machines Centre (PEMC).
With research at its heart, 21 research groups are undertaking pioneering projects for a sustainable future across several themes – including net zero transport, sustainable energies and the built environment, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare technologies – and has delivered a positive impact in more than 20 countries. Within those countries, the faculty’s research has supported 500 companies and three governments – that have changed their strategies as a result of its research – and has also directly created jobs for around 3,000 people across the world.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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