Brain Tumour Research is at the Welsh Parliament today to raise awareness of the disease amongst Members of the Senedd (MS).
The drop-in event aims to engage MSs with brain tumour research in Wales to bring about better funding and better options and outcomes for brain tumour patients.
The event has been sponsored by Mike Hedges, MS for Swansea East. He said: “Brain tumours are indiscriminate and affect so many people under the age of 40. It’s important we do all we can to raise awareness and funds, and find a cure.”
MSs will be joined by Dafydd Hobbs, who lost his wife Charlotte to a brain tumour in March 2022. Charlotte (pictured with Dafydd on their wedding day) had been diagnosed with a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma in 2010 after suffering a seizure and underwent surgery and radiotherapy, but was warned that the tumour would return.
In October 2020, a scan revealed regrowth and Charlotte had another craniotomy and further radiotherapy. Whilst undergoing chemotherapy in November 2021, Charlotte raised more than £10,000 by taking part in our 100 Star Jumps a Day challenge.
Dafydd, who set up a Fundraising Group called One for the Road to continue his wife’s legacy, said: “I would not wish other families to go through what we did. We know that so much work needs to be done to change outcomes for brain tumour patients.”
Also attending today’s event at the Senedd is Dr Ben Newland, a neuroscientist from the University of Cardiff. He said: “Brain tumours devastate families. Whilst treatments for other cancers have progressed, very little improvement has been made for brain tumours. I think all of us, regardless of our political persuasion, need to tackle this problem by laying the foundation for researchers and companies to develop innovative new therapies to radically improve outcomes for patients.”
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