OUR TRUSTEES… experienced brain tumour activists, working tirelessly to make a difference

Brain Tumour Research trustees represent group charities uniting as a common voice.  Whilst maintaining their loyalties to the loved ones and charities that originally got them involved, they recognise the need to step up a level so that funding for brain tumour research is on a par with other cancers.

Chairman, Wendy Fulcher, inspired by Neuro-surgeon Kevin O’Neill, founded the Brain Tumour Research Campaign (BTRC) in 2003 to fund research at Charing Cross Hospital.  A founder member of the Brain Tumour Research Group of Charities, Wendy has represented the group on many forums, and is currently a representative of the National Cancer Research Institute brain tumour group. Wendy lost her husband John to a grade IV astrocytoma in June 2001.



Director, Sue Farrington Smith led the coming together of brain tumour charities in 2003 and, through her local MP John Bercow, established the brain tumour All Party Parliamentary Group in July 2005 for which she provides the secretariat.  She represents the group on the Cancer Campaigning Group and has co-ordinated the group’s activities since its inception.  Sue is a founding trustee of the charity Ali’s Dream following the loss of Alison Phelan, her beloved seven year old niece to a brain stem glioma in June 2001.

Trustee, Nigel Boutwood has been at the forefront of brain tumour campaigning since 1993 when his son Charlie was diagnosed with a malignant medulloblastoma at the age of 20 months. Charlie’s treatment was successful and he is now approaching adulthood. Nigel remains passionate about giving something back to the brain tumour community and finding a cure for this dreadful disease.  He is also Chairman of the charity Charlie’s Challenge. 

Trustee, Tina Mitchell Skinner, founder and Chief Executive of Hammerout is passionate about providing information and support for brain tumour patients and their carers, particularly in the South West of England.  In 2004 Tina initiated the March brain tumour awareness month which has been adopted by the majority of UK brain tumour charities. Her journey began in 2001 when her late husband Paul was diagnosed with a grade IV glioblastoma multiforme. He died in 2003 when their son John was just five years old.

President, Sandy Saunders established The Diana Ford Trust in 2002 with other family members following the loss of his daughter Diana at the age of 38, to a grade IV glioblastoma multiforme.  Diana's three sons were just seven, five and two.  Sandy campaigned tirelessly for the formation of an alliance of brain tumour charities recognising the power of working together.  In 2008 The Diana Ford Trust, agreed to re-register as Brain Tumour Research and appoint new trustees from the membership.  Two of the Diana Ford Trust’s three family trustees resigned to facilitate the change.  The move also allowed Brain Tumour Research to make use of the Diana Ford Trust’s cash deposits to fund the first stage of the new awareness campaign.
 

Trustee, Carol Robertson witnessed the deterioration of her fiercely independent friend Andrea Kay who lost her battle with a grade IV glioblastoma multiforme in May 2002 at the age of 42, just five months after diagnosis.  Andrea loved life and is sorely missed by her two children (then teenagers). Carol founded Andrea’s Gift with other work colleagues and is now employed as fundraiser and charity development manager.  Her enthusiasm for raising funds to develop long term research projects into adult and paediatric brain tumours, and to provide a level of support for Yorkshire based patients and carers in their very personal battles with the disease, knows no bounds.
 

Trustee, Dr Helen Bulbeck paves the way for brain tumour patients to receive pioneering surgery in Boston through her charity Brainstrust.  Galvanised into action in 2004 when her daughter Meg was diagnosed with a grade II mixed cell glioma brain tumour at the age of 19, Helen was not going to roll over when told there was no treatment available in the UK. Brainstrust now explores brain tumour treatments worldwide and provides information and support to hundreds of brain tumour patients in the UK.