Brave Hucknall lad Taylan taking on big walking challenge

Four-year-old Taylan Hart and his mum Gemma Capewell are taking on a challenge to jog – or in this case walk – 26 miles in May to support the brain tumour charity.

Taylan was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2019 after he kept suffering severe epileptic seizures and the charity’s support has been vital to helping the family.

Gemma and Taylan and Gemma’s partner Chris Brooks, are well known to many people in Hucknall as they run the popular Broomhill Inn pub in the town.

Chris said: “Gemma signed up to do the Jog 26 Miles in May but wanted to make it special by taking Taylan with her, so they’re doing it as a walk.”

Taylan’s seizures started a couple of years ago and got more and more regular.

Eventually, they went for an MRI scan and discovered the tumour which was causing the epileptic seizures.

Chris continued: “A times it’s been very hard for Gemma to take but she’s been brilliant and taken it in her stride.

"We’ve been having a series of MRI scans to see if there would be any growth and there hasn’t been for the last nine months, which is good news.

"However, they are trying to bring Taylan’s epileptic seizures under control with his medication and at the minute he’s at the maximum amount on the medication he’s on so they might have to look at altering it.

"Everyone at the hospital has been absolutely fantastic so far, Taylan actually likes going to the hospital, he finds it exciting.

"Just looking at Taylan every day, you’d never know there was something wrong, he goes to school as normal and day to day he’s fine.

"The problems tend to be more at night when he’s tired.”

"The doctors could operate but the tumour is quite embedded into his brain so the risk factor is quite substantial and could affect his speech and his walking.

"Maybe he’ll undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the future, but that’s something we’ll have to look at down the line.”

To support Taylan and Gemma, click here.