Today we are honouring the inspiration for our Fundraising Group Team Joshua on the third anniversary of his passing and the first since Team Joshua was set up.
Josh Beresford-Smart, the youngest of three brothers (Josh pictured above far right with Matt and Tom) with an aspiration to become a human rights lawyer, was 18 when he died on 19th February 2021. He had been diagnosed aged 15 with a diffuse midline glioma (DMG, also known as DIPG) after developing a tremor in his right hand. Josh underwent a debulking surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and later spent 18 months travelling to and from New York after being accepted onto a clinical trial. Sadly the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to Josh’s access to the trial and he started to experience symptoms again – the tremors in his right hand increased, leading to the loss of use of his right side.
Josh made the decision not to have further treatment – he’d been told he wouldn’t be a priority for a ventilator if he caught COVID as he’d already outlived his prognosis – and wanted to enjoy the time he had left.
Mum Michelle said: “The hardest thing for Josh was losing function but still being locked inside, able to understand everything.
“It is torture watching your child experience the realities of the final months of a DMG brain tumour diagnosis.”
We are grateful to Josh’s family for setting up Team Joshua to help fund the fight to bring about better outcomes for patients and ultimately a cure for the devasting disease.
To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Team Joshua, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/teamjoshuafundraisinggroup
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