A milestone meeting between Health Minister Ashley Dalton (pictured above right, centre) and a bereaved Leicestershire mum has resulted in a commitment to work together with leading brain tumour charities, to help unlock funding for research and give hope to the one in three people affected by this devastating disease.
The meeting, which took place yesterday (Tuesday 13th May), delivered on a promise made by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons in March, during Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Sir Keir Starmer pledged his commitment to “life-saving research” at Prime Minister’s Questions to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients, following the death of six-year-old Taylan Kurtul (above centre) from the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
Laura Kurtul (pictured above right with Ms Dalton, and top left with Taylan and husband, Toygun), from Broughton Astley, has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of Brain Tumour Research since losing her only child to a medulloblastoma in February 2024, just nine months after diagnosis.
She said: “Sharing my story with the Health Minister was incredibly emotional and intense, but we came out feeling heard and hopeful that we will create change together. Ashley acknowledged how awful this situation is and she’s very keen to work with us. She recognised that we aren’t getting enough research into brain tumours and she’s committed to ensuring Government funding for this type of research is unlocked. That was what we were desperate to hear and what will motivate us to keep going.”
Laura was joined by fellow campaigner Louise Fox, who lost her 13-year-old son George to a glioblastoma in April 2022, as well as our CEO, Dan Knowles, Jess Mills, daughter of the late Tessa Jowell and founder of The Tessa Jowell Foundation, and Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, who first raised Laura's story during PMQs in March.
Alberto Costa MP, Louise Fox, Health Minister Ashley Dalton, Laura Kurtul, Jess Mills and Dan Knowles
Dan said: “Brain Tumour Research is grateful to Laura and Louise for their endless support and campaigning efforts. Together they have raised more than £170,000 to help fund vital research to change outcomes for brain tumour patients, and we know they will remain steadfast in their fight to ensure other families are not forced to face the devastation that they have.
“We, as an organisation, will continue to work with the Minister and our supporters, as well as other stakeholders including the Tessa Jowell Foundation, to ensure that any blockages are identified and cleared so that we can increase investment into brain tumours in the UK. Furthermore, we look forward to seeing greater priorities for brain tumours in the National Cancer Plan to be published later this year.”
The successful discussion ended with a pledge from the Minister, who also attended the APPG meeting yesterday, to meet again in the autumn to hold further discussions.
Laura said: “I was forced to watch what this disease did to my son, and I can’t bear to know that this is still happening to other children. I’m still Tay’s mum, but I’m his mum in a different way now. I’m his voice, and I know Tay wouldn’t want this to happen to other children.”
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