Brain Tumour Research is proud to announce para-athlete Anthony Bryan as its newest Ambassador.
Diagnosed with an astrocytoma at the age of six in 1996, Anthony has gone on to overcome countless challenges over the years and achieve success as a decorated para-athlete and World Record holder.
Anthony has no peripheral vision in his left eye and relies almost entirely on the right side of his body – the life-changing effects of complications following treatment. Despite this, his ambition and determination to keep running led to him become the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest marathon run with hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis), at the TCS London Marathon in 2024.
Now a fitness instructor, Anthony is supporting our campaigning to fund more research into brain tumours.
Speaking at a tour of our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London on Wednesday 4th March, Anthony said: “The lack of investment in research into brain tumours is shocking. It’s been 30 years since my diagnosis and not much has changed. People think it’s rare but one in three people knows someone affected by a brain tumour.
"Seeing the dedication, expertise, and hard work that goes on behind the scenes at Queen Mary was incredible and it truly shows where your fundraising money goes. Every pound raised is helping edge us closer and closer to that all-important cure."
Researchers at Queen Mary are mapping the earliest stages of medulloblastoma in a hunt for new treatments for childhood cancer. Medulloblastoma is the most common form of brain cancer in children. Little is known about what causes the cancer and current treatment options involve surgery along with harsh radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which are not always effective.
By growing ‘mini brains’ in the lab, the team is unlocking clues to cancer formation and identifying new drugs with fewer long-term side effects. The aim is to find kinder treatments for paediatric brain tumours.
Anthony (centre)
Living with the impacts of surgery to remove his brain tumour, Anthony understands the importance of finding innovative new treatments and minimising the trauma of childhood cancer, saying: "After surgery to remove my brain tumour left me paralysed, people kept telling me I couldn’t do things. That I’d never do the things I loved at six years old – running around and playing football – ever again.
“The more they said, “You can’t”, the more I thought, “I will”. I stopped focusing on what I couldn’t do and focused on what I could do.
“I spent much of my childhood in hospitals but for most of my life I never met anyone else who had a brain tumour. As Ambassador to Brain Tumour Research, I want to be a role model to other people, particularly children, who are facing a diagnosis and show them that there is hope after these tough times.”
Dan Knowles, CEO of Brain Tumour Research said: “We are deeply honoured to have Anthony join us as Ambassador. His remarkable story will bring much-needed hope and inspiration to our community, and we are grateful that he will lend his voice to strengthen our call for greater investment into research to drive the change which brain tumour patients and their families so desperately deserve.”
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