Today, we are thinking of our Patron, Theo Burrell, as she marks three years since receiving her glioblastoma brain tumour diagnosis.
In a poignant personal message that Theo has shared with us and her social media followers, she reflects on her journey, which has been punctuated by crushing lows yet also incredible highs. She speaks of despair – but, ultimately, enduring hope.
“I did not think, three years ago, that I would still be sitting here,” she says, “relatively well, living my life, seeing my son grow up, and marking various milestones.
“If you are newly diagnosed, I hope you will see this message as some hope, and certainly lots of joy.”
Since her diagnosis, Theo has been a vehement champion of our cause, taking any and every opportunity to push for more research funding and better outcomes for brain tumour patients and their families.
She has taken part in multiple Wear A Hat Day and Walk of Hope events to raise awareness and, last January, joined us to deliver a petition to Downing Street, demanding that the Government recognises research into brain tumours as a critical priority.
She played a pivotal role in the launch of our Scottish Research Centre of Excellence, and at our gala dinner, Closer to a Cure – 15 Years of Impact, in March of this year, moved the room with an impassioned speech about living with a glioblastoma and the heartbreaking likelihood of not living to see her young son grow up to become a man.
Credit: @owenbphoto
With the recurrence of tumour cells last autumn, Theo restarted chemotherapy in December and now faces her next challenge as she anxiously awaits her latest scan. But with her infallible positivity, she spoke joyfully about the prospect in the coming months of taking her son to his first day of school, a moment that she once thought she may never see.
Theo has become a tower of strength, a beacon of hope, and a shoulder to cry on for others enduring the same or similar plights. Yet, humbly, offered up her own thanks: “I’m very grateful to everyone who gets in touch.
“Thank you to people who give me hope,” she added. “We are all in this together. There is real strength in the community, and I really could not have got through the last years without having friends by my side.”
She ended her powerful message with a plea for increased investment and increased research, adding: “Here’s to some groundbreaking new things happening in our future that will see brain tumours be more easily treated and hopefully cured.”
You can help make Theo’s hopes a reality by making a donation. Whatever you give will make a big difference and change the future for brain tumour patients.
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