Mum-of-three Linda Goode was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in October 2021. She underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but sadly passed away in January 2024, aged 51. During Linda’s illness and since losing her, Linda’s family and friends have raised thousands for Brain Tumour Research. Her husband Phil shares why he is determined to continue his beloved wife’s legacy.
Linda was a wonderful person with so many friends. She was incredibly dedicated to our children. She always encouraged them to do the very best they could, and supported them no matter what they chose to do.
We met on a school ski trip through my best mate who was a teacher with Linda. The school was short of a couple of adults, so I volunteered to help make up their numbers. Of course, Linda was a much better skier than me. She was very sporty and could pick up any sport and be good at it.
We were married for 23 years and had three wonderful children, Ben, Jonah and Mia. We were like any normal family, just getting on with life until we were hit with the news that Linda had a brain tumour. Life hasn’t been the same since.
It was Linda’s nature to always look for the positives. Even when we found out the tumour was a glioblastoma – the worst possible diagnosis – she made the choice to accept it and stay positive. She hated being called a warrior and being compared to the stats.
We lost Linda on 10th January 2024. She had been very unwell for a few weeks, but she died peacefully surrounded by love. There was a beautiful blue sky that day.
The kids and I miss Linda every single day. But we know that she would want us to look for breaks in the clouds and find positives, just like she always did.
A year before Linda’s diagnosis, a close friend’s daughter was diagnosed with glioblastoma. She went to the US to have immunotherapy. She is only 19 and is thankfully still surviving with the tumour.
I also had a school friend who was diagnosed with a meningioma, who died in 2024. I have two friends who are battling glioblastoma right now, so I’m focusing on supporting them where I can.
Brain tumours are far more common than people think, but so many people don’t know about them. That’s one part of the problem. The other part is that there’s not enough funding for research, so we’re not finding new treatments to help people live longer.
We’ve raised more than £35,000 for Brain Tumour Research with the support of family and friends. Linda supported the Charity’s Crowning Glory hat auction in 2023, I took on a triathlon relay event and I ran the Manchester Half Marathon last year, and Ben and Jonah ran the Brighton and Madrid Marathons, amongst multiple other fundraising challenges and events.
I also decided to leave a gift to Brain Tumour Research in my will to honour Linda’s memory, and to recognise the help and support that Charlie from the charity gave us both during and after Linda’s illness.
Nothing’s going to change unless there is more research. A cure won’t just come out of the woodwork. There’s been such little progress in the last few decades, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t be on the cusp of something really exciting tomorrow.
Pledging to leave a gift in your will is something you can do without really hurting anyone. It was really easy to do too. And I know that when I’m gone, I’ll still be supporting a cause that is hugely important to my family.
Linda didn’t get the chance to survive, but I’m determined to do what I can so that her legacy will be a cure for brain tumours.
If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift to Brain Tumour Research in your will, including how you can write your will for free, click here. Or request your free legacy information pack by clicking here.
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