Daughter to raise funds for charity after mum is diagnosed with shock brain tumour

A popular post office worker has been diagnosed with a shock brain tumour '“ and her daughter will now run a half-marathon to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Charity.
Jean Halstead (s)Jean Halstead (s)
Jean Halstead (s)

Jean Halstead (66), who is married to Mick, has worked in post offices for years.

Mum-of-two daughters Jean, who lives in Harle Syke, ran the Queen Victoria Road Post Office and has worked at Coal Clough Lane Post Office for the last decade.

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“Mum has always been organised, efficient and focused but mid-September her behaviour started changing,” said oldest daughter Louise Keddick (39).

Caring Louise Keddick will run to support mum Jean Halstead.Caring Louise Keddick will run to support mum Jean Halstead.
Caring Louise Keddick will run to support mum Jean Halstead.

“She started being late for things and missing appointments which was most unlike her.

“She thought it was age but me and my sister Deborah (Waters) took her to the doctors as we just didn’t feel it was right.

“She went for a scan at Salford Royal, where Deborah is a nurse, and they diagnosed a brain tumour and this was only two weeks ago.

“We have been shocked by the speed of everything.

Caring Louise Keddick will run to support mum Jean Halstead.Caring Louise Keddick will run to support mum Jean Halstead.
Caring Louise Keddick will run to support mum Jean Halstead.
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“She had an operation last Monday but unfortunately it didn’t go to plan.”

“We had hoped she would be out in a week and she was hoping, after a period of recuperation, she would be back in work.

“However there was swelling on the brain and they had to do an emergency operation on Wednesday and cut open the top part of her skull.

“She is extremely unwell and we are waiting to see what happens next. We are hoping she will recover but it will be a long process.”

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Louise had already decided to run the Run Tatton Half-Marathon in Tatton Park in Cheshire in November.

“I am a dog lover and we had a dog Walter who died aged 18 months in February after an incident with a stick which was heart breaking,” said mother-of-four Louise.

“I had already decided to run the half-marathon for the Hungarian Vizsla Welfare Charity, as Walter was a Hungarian Vizsla, and we have rehomed two more dogs from them, Dexter and Rufus.

“I know not everyone is into dogs so I also decided to run for Pendleside Hospice.

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“It was a challenge for me as I had only given birth to my fourth child in April so it’s a major thing to get fit and run 13.1 miles.

“Then this has all happened with my mum and so I have added the Brain Tumour Charity to the list of charities I am running for.

“These are all charities close to my heart and it is hard with my mum being so ill and being in Salford but I just want to show that it’s been a tough year but, if I can run a half-marathon, anyone can do it. It will be a huge personal sense of achievement but it’s important to me to help these charities.”

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