A BRAVE former York schoolgirl is battling terminal brain cancer.

Anna Swabey was at home on January 9 this year when she suffered a seizure which would change her life forever.

Anna, 23, was rushed to hospital and underwent a range of tests before doctors found a tumour.

The former York College student and Mount School pupil, who now lives in County Durham with her family, said: “I was a bit naive to start with because when someone said it was a brain tumour I didn’t think it was cancer and didn’t really understand the magnitude of it all.

“The hardest bit for me was finding out exactly what the diagnosis was.

“They said I could survive months or anything up to three years, but I didn’t even hear the years, I just heard months and when I looked at my mum we both burst into tears.”

Anna is about to undergo intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment next month as she begins her lengthy fight against the illness. However, the keen sports fan already has reasons to be positive.

Doctors originally told the former customer services manager the Grade 3 Glioma Anaplastic Astrocytoma brain tumour was inoperable, but she has since undergone an operation and surgeons successfully removed a section of it growing in the right side of her brain.

Her goal now is to raise as much awareness and money to help fund research into the disease, as she clings on to the hope the extensive treatment will save her life.

The Languages and European studies graduate, along with a number of her friends, have set about doing what they can to fund research into the illness.

Friend Helen Ward first met 16-year-old Anna when they worked together at LK Bennett, at York Designer Outlet.

Mrs Ward, 35, of Barlow, near Selby, is raising money for the Brain Tumour Research Campaign by cutting off her 23-inch ponytail while other friends run gruelling marathons.

Anna, a University of Portsmouth graduate, is organising a fairytale ball on May 2 at the Wynyard Hall Country House Hotel, on Teesside.

She added: “It’s horrible and it has been devastating for me and my family and friends, but if I can take any positives out of this it’s that I feel like I have a purpose in fundraising.

“I had some major brain surgery three weeks ago and I’m feeling good and have recovered really well.

“I’m only 23 so all the doctors have been saying that’s a massive positive.

“I should respond well to treatment because I’m healthy and have no other health problems, but nobody knows how I’m going to react to anything.”

To find out more about Anna, read her blog at annaswabey.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/insidemyhead/

To sponsor Helen Ward visit www.justgiving.com/Helen-Ward20