The mum of a 12-year-old girl who died from a brain tumour is helping to raise awareness of the disease by supporting our Advent Appeal.
Grace Kelly died from a glioblastoma (GBM) in August 2022, just one year after being diagnosed.
Her mum, Vanessa Kelly, from Leicestershire, shares her story behind door 19 to remind people why funding for research into brain tumours is so important.
Grace was a happy and healthy 11-year-old when a routine eye test uncovered a swelling behind her eyes, which led to the discovery of the tumour.
The schoolgirl underwent gruelling surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but sadly it was not enough.
At the time of her death, her family were desperately trying to crowdfund £200,000 to go to Germany for pioneering private treatment, which is unavailable on the NHS.
Vanessa, who is also mum to Marissa and Nathan, said: “Brain tumours have a devastating effect on families. They kill more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to the disease.
“I’d encourage anyone who can to donate to the appeal.”
Open door 19 of our Advent Appeal to watch Vanessa’s moving message: www.braintumourresearch.org/pages/advent-appeal
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