Today we are remembering Matthew Pullan on the first anniversary of his death.
Matthew was first diagnosed with an ependymoma when he was just three years old. He made a good recovery and enjoyed several years of stable MRI scans, until June 2020, when Matthew was diagnosed with a new tumour.
He underwent surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Tragically, Matthew’s condition deteriorated significantly in September 2021 and an emergency MRI scan confirmed the cancer had spread to other parts of his brain.
He died at home surrounded by his loved ones on 9th September 2021, at the age of 18.
Matthew campaigned passionately to raise awareness of the disease through his candid blogging about his experience of being a young person with cancer, social media and engaging with politicians.
The family became keen supporters of Brain Tumour Research and, in 2020, Matthew featured in our Wear A Hat Day campaign alongside his dad Gary, step mum Claire, twin brother Alex and younger brothers, Mark and Samuel.
They have also raised thousands to help find a cure. In August 2020, Alex ran 5km every day during his brother’s radiotherapy raising more than £15,000, and their grandad Alan Holmes swam 100km in open water during 2021 to raise £7,500.
This Sunday (11th September), a team of more than 30 runners from Radcliffe Athletic Club – which Matthew was a part of – will take on the Simplyhealth Great North Run inspired by his memory.
We are thinking of Gary, Claire, Alex, Mark and Samuel, and all of Matthew’s loved ones today.
And we keep Matthew’s inspiring motto which embodied his positivity, spirit and strength in our hearts as we continue to strive towards our vision of finding a cure for all types of brain tumours: “Life is terminal – it is our job to live it”.