This Mother’s Day, our thoughts are with all the mothers who are facing the life-changing news of a brain tumour diagnosis, the mums who have been cruelly taken from their families too soon and the mummies who tragically know the heartache of losing a child to this devastating disease.
We are eternally grateful to the many mothers who turn their pain into action, who fight for increased funding for research into brain tumours and to make more people aware of our cause, to bring the day closer when a cure is found.
Laura Kurtul is amongst those mothers who are demanding that more be done, to spare another family from going through what her family has endured. Her son Taylan was just six years old when he died from a medulloblastoma in February 2024, nine months after diagnosis.
Following a meeting with her MP, Alberto Costa for South Leicestershire, the Prime Minister has now pledged his commitment to “life-saving research” to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients and their families.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 19th March, Mr Costa asked the PM if he would agree to arrange a meeting for Laura with the relevant health minister.
Keir Starmer was moved to give his support in the House of Commons. He said: “The loss of a child is simply unbearable, and I think most of us, including myself, simply wouldn’t know how we would be able to react. I think the whole House will want to send its deepest condolences to Laura and to all of Taylan’s family and friends. I will happily make sure that a meeting takes place so we can reassure that we are committed to supporting life-saving and life-improving research and doing all we can to improve how we prevent, detect, manage and treat cancer.”
As the PM delivered his statement, which poignantly took place during Brain Tumour Awareness Month, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, was nodding in agreement.
Laura said: “I’m feeling overcome and emotional, this has all happened so quickly. I met with Alberto on Friday 14th March and he was so moved, so affected, by Taylan’s story, he immediately said, ‘We need to take this to Parliament’.
“Hearing Taylan’s name spoken in the House of Commons by Keir Starmer was incredibly overwhelming. It means so much to us but equally, it really hit hard that this is our heartbreaking reality.
“To have the Prime Minister’s support is a monumental step forward in making a change for children, families and all those affected by a brain tumour.
“Thank you to Alberto for raising this at the highest level for all of us who have suffered the utter devastation of losing a child to this cruel disease. By taking action now, we might be able to spare other parents from going through this never-ending heartache.”
Together with her husband, Toygun, Laura set up the Fundraising Group, Tay’s Tribe. The group’s first official fundraiser, TayFest, took place last June raising more than £6,000, and to date, more than £33,000 has been raised in Taylan’s memory. As part of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, Laura arranged for Warwick Castle to light up in our signature colours of pink and yellow as part of our Light Up the UK campaign to raise awareness.
However you are spending this Mother’s Day, whether you’re remembering a loved one or spending it with someone living with a brain tumour, we’ll be keeping you in our thoughts.
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