Brain tumour survivor from Eastbourne to complete 99-mile walking challenge for the charity that helped him recover
A brain tumour survivor from Eastbourne is walking 99 miles in November to raise money for the charity that aided his recovery.
Scott Temple, 44, has planned nine walks in and around the town to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
The 44-year-old founded Eastbourne Free Walkers in 2023 – a group designed to get people in the local community out walking together.
And some of Scott’s group will be joining him to raise money for a cause very close to his heart.
Scott said a tumour started growing from the back of his brain, pushing down onto his spinal cord, about two years before his diagnosis.
He had his operation on March 23, 2020 – the day Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scott said: “I was very lucky because they got me in quickly before everything shut down. I wouldn't like to think what would have happened otherwise.”
There wasn’t a quick fix though as his C1 and C2 vertebrae – the two main neck bones – were removed to allow the operation to take place, with Scott told the procedure could potentially paralyse him or even be fatal.
Despite a successful operation resulting in the tumour being removed, Scott was left in extreme pain and admitted to becoming a ‘recluse’ in the years after, suffering from long COVID, heart palpitations and anxiety.
But things changed when he began walking again, and in February 2023 he tackled Brain Tumour Research’s on Facebook “10,000 Steps a Day Challenge”.
After 28 consecutive days of walking, Scott decided to form the Free Walkers to shape his passion for walking into a thriving community.
The group now has 1,800 members on Facebook, with between 20 and 40 people regularly joining Scott on the walks every week.
“I love walking,” Scott said. “If I could make it my job, I would.”
He encouraged people to get involved with the challenge, forming a programme of walks and social events. Find out more at www.facebook.com/share/1DUnJegETx/.
To donate to Scott’s fundraiser, visit www.facebook.com/donate/1161304989580806/?fundraiser_source=external_url.
Since forming the group, the 44-year-old has created Elevare Salus – a one-to-one life coaching company with the name taken from the Latin for “elevate wellbeing”.
Scott also has a weekly radio show at Eastbourne’s District General Hospital called “Scotty T’s Wednesday Uplifter”.