back to Awards & NomineesThe Inspiration Awards - Jodie Colls

In the Spring of 2003 Jodie Colls discovered that she had an inoperable brain tumour.  Understandably this was a massive shock to her, her family and friends.  However she was fortunate to be in the hands of an amazing medical team at the Queens Medical Centre Neurology department in Nottingham.  After major surgery the team were able to relieve the massive amount of pressure that had built up in her head, but unfortunately they were not able to remove the tumour.  However the surgery allows her to live a normal life with the exception of regular hospital check ups.

After this experience Jodie decided she wanted to do much more with my life.  In 2004 and at 19 years of age she decided to travel around parts of the world, this was an amazing experience. Whilst travelling she would always keep in touch with friends and family back home, one such friend was Paul.

Paul and Jodie would mail each other often.  This cheered her up greatly when Jodie felt she was missing home or needed someone to talk to, though one particular email of Paul's had the reverse effect.  Totally out of the blue doctors discovered that Paul's Father Peter also had an inoperable brain tumour, within a month of this devastating news Peter had died, leaving behind his two sons Paul and Shane and his wife Julie.

When Jodie returned from travelling their friendship became much stronger, over the course of a couple of years fate would have them become an item, they planned to marry in 2007.  Spurred on by my own experience and what happened to Peter Jodie entered 2007's Race For Life.  To help promote this event she also took part in a photo shoot where a group of Brides to be from different parts of the country wore Bridal dresses and trainers.  After representing Nottingham in the photo shoot Jodie was asked to launch the race in Nottingham.  She now aims to take part in charity events annually.

Earlier this year Paul entered me into Wedding TV's Bride Of The Year competition, Jodie made the final and much to her surprise won the event.  After everything she'd been through at a young age Jodie decided to quit her job and get into teaching, she loves children and by doing this feels like she's doing something tremendously rewarding.