Chase The Hare

28/11/2025

🎄 New blog post is live 🎄
This time of year is full of noise, laughter and group conversations… but living with partial hearing loss changes how all of that feels.

I’ve written about the quieter side of Christmas — the social anxiety of trying to follow conversations in busy rooms, the guilt of missing things, and the relief of finding calm moments that actually feel real.

If you’ve ever struggled in crowded festive spaces, or know someone who does, this one might resonate. ❤️

There's a strange contrast that comes with this time of year. Everywhere you look, Christmas is painted as loud, bright, and full of energy, the kind of season where you're supposed to glide effortlessly from one group conversation to the next, laughing, mingling, clinking glasses, and soaking in th...

24/08/2025

🚢✨ Back to the Fjords with Iona!

We’ve just returned from our 4th cruise on P&O Iona — and once again, Norway didn’t disappoint. From the 5am sail-in at Olden and a hike up to Briksdal Glacier, to a high-speed RIB ride in Hellesylt, and evenings filled with shows like Greatest Days and JUNNK… it was another trip to remember.

This time we had my dad and step-mum in the cabin next door, the boys loving their separate kids’ clubs, and even hit Pacific Tier in the Peninsular Club (hoodies included 🧥).

Full blog write-up (with photos, tips, and even a drinks package calculator) is now live 👉 https://chasethehare.com/articles/2025/back-to-the-fjords-with-iona/

📸 Gallery included for each port!

💡 If you’re planning a fjords cruise, there are loads of tips in here on excursions, kids’ club, dining, and connectivity.

We’ve clearly developed a bit of a soft spot for Iona. This was our fourth time sailing on her, and our second visit to the Norwegian fjords. The ship feels like a second home now — familiar corridors, favourite spots, and even familiar crew faces — but the scenery of Norway still has the powe...

14/07/2025

🔥 Just wrapped up an incredible weekend at SUPBIKERUN Devon – my first time taking on this epic paddle, bike, run adventure in the heat of the summer!

From solo camping and spontaneous beach trips, to brutal climbs, cramp-saving decisions, and crossing the finish line with a huge smile… this one had it all. Most importantly, I did it to raise awareness and funds for BANA UK – a cause that means a lot to me as someone living with an acoustic neuroma.

💙 I’ve raised over £1,500 so far, and I just want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who supported me – especially those I’ve never even met who shared heartfelt messages along the way. You absolutely carried me through.

If you fancy a read (or just want to see how sweaty I got in 30-degree heat), here’s the full write-up of my weekend:
👉 https://chasethehare.com/articles/2025/supbikerun-devon-2025-result/

And if you haven’t yet and would like to support BANA UK, there’s still time to sponsor me:
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/chasethehare

12/07/2025

Race Pack collected ❤️SUPBIKERUN

11/07/2025

All checked in and set up ready for the weekend and a lovely sun set

06/07/2025

🚣‍♂️ 18 Miles. 2 Falls. Countless Portages. All for a Great Cause! 🐾

Today I took on The Doggy Paddle – an 18-mile paddle down the River Avon from Leamington to Stratford-upon-Avon, raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

It was tough in places (shoutout to the shallow bits that grabbed my fin and sent me swimming twice 😅), but the atmosphere, the scenery, and the purpose behind it made every mile worth it.

This was also a warm-up for next week’s SUPBIKERUN, where I’ll be paddling, biking, and running to raise awareness for acoustic neuromas – something I’m personally living with.

📖 I’ve written up the full story here, including my route, stats, and a few laughs along the way:
👉 https://chasethehare.com/articles/2025/doggy-paddle/

Thanks to everyone who helped organise today — and if you fancy supporting either cause, every little really does help. 💙

01/07/2025

🌊🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️ Just a reminder – it’s July, and that means I’m taking on the Ultimate Triathlon!
SUPBIKERUN = 6km Paddleboard, 42km Bike, and 10km Run… all in support of a cause close to my heart.

And today is BANA Awareness Day, a moment to shine a light on acoustic neuromas and the impact they have on people’s lives – including mine.

I’m doing this challenge to raise awareness and funds for those living with acoustic neuromas. I’ve shared my story here, and if you’re able to support with a donation, I’d be incredibly grateful:
👉 https://chasethehare.com/articles/2025/supbikerun-challenge-bana/

Every little bit helps. Thanks for being part of the journey 💙

17/06/2025

📣 MRI Update – Still Stable

Just had the call to confirm my latest MRI results:
No change. No growth. Still measuring 19 x 12 x 12mm.

It’s been around 18 months since I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, and this was my first yearly follow-up scan after a 6-month check in 2024.

The results? No movement. No surprises. That quiet kind of relief you don’t realise you’re waiting for until it lands.

I’ve written a blog post reflecting on the scan, the in-between space, and what “watchful waiting” really means.

👉 https://chasethehare.com/articles/still-standing-mri-results-and-a-breath-of-relief/

09/05/2025

This summer, I’m taking on something big — a 6km paddle, 42km bike ride, and a 10km trail run at the SUPBIKERUN Devon event to raise money for BANA (British Acoustic Neuroma Association).

In 2023, I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. It’s often labelled “benign,” but the impact is anything but. Permanent hearing loss, constant tinnitus, and the mental load of knowing there's a tumour in my head is a daily reality I now live with.

BANA has been an incredible support throughout my journey — providing trusted information and connecting me to a community of people who just get it. This event is my way of giving back, raising awareness, and pushing myself beyond what I thought possible.

This is just the first of many events I’m planning to take on for this cause. If you can spare a donation, I’d be so grateful — and even just sharing this helps more than you know.

🛶🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️ Read the full story and support the cause here:
👉 https://chasethehare.com/articles/challenging-myself-supporting-others-why-im-taking-on-the-sup-bike-run-for-bana

💙 Donate here:
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/chasethehare

Thanks for reading, supporting, and helping me make a difference.

22/04/2025

Paddleboarding has always been one of my favourite things to do — but since my acoustic neuroma diagnosis, it’s become something even more important: a way to stay balanced in more ways than one.

I’ve just written a blog post about how SUP helps me manage life with one-sided hearing, tinnitus, and all the uncertainty that comes with having a brain tumour.

If you’re interested, or know someone living with AN or hearing loss, have a read here:

https://chasethehare.com/articles/keeping-my-balance-paddleboarding-acoustic-neuroma/

14/04/2025

“It’s benign, you’ll be fine.”

Those words might sound reassuring, but for many people living with acoustic neuromas or other non-cancerous brain tumours, they’re anything but.

The word benign can be misleading — and even harmful. It often downplays the reality of hearing loss, fatigue, tinnitus, balance issues, and emotional distress that follow a diagnosis.

I’ve written a blog post diving into why the term benign doesn’t tell the full story — and why it’s time we start changing the language, improving support, and raising awareness.

Read the full post:
https://chasethehare.com/articles/why-the-word-benign-can-be-so-damaging-for-people-with-acoustic-neuromas-and-other-brain-tumours

If you or someone you know is navigating life with a benign brain tumour, please share this.
Support matters. Words matter.

06/04/2025

Well... plot twist. 🎬
I was all geared up for my next MRI scan—headphones ready, nerves steady, blog half-written—and then the NHS casually hit me with: “Oops, you’re early. Try again in May 2025.” 🧠⏳

So the scanxiety is on pause, the tumour continues its silent squat, and I’ve got another month to just... wait. Again.

https://chasethehare.com/articles/scanxiety-on-pause-the-tumour-waits-and-so-do-i/