Today we’re honouring the 10th anniversary of Stephen Realf, who was just 26 years old when he passed away from an astrocytoma.
In the decade since losing Stephen, his family has worked with Brain Tumour Research to make some meaning out of their loss. They launched a Parliamentary petition in 2015 which was signed by more than 120,000 people and kickstarted what was to become an incredible campaigning journey alongside the charity.
Dad, Peter (pictured above) said: “Research gave my son hope, the campaigning we have done since Stephen died, and the impact we have had, has given me the belief that my son did not die in vain.”
Stephen, an RAF pilot, started having a few early warning signs, aged 19, including ringing in his ears, pins and needles and, on one occasion, collapsing, only to be sent home from hospital having been told he was simply dehydrated.
His sister, journalist Maria Lester, said: “The day Stephen was diagnosed with an astrocytoma was our family’s darkest. The thought that this bright, brave teenager, with everything to live for, now had a potentially fatal cancer was too awful to comprehend.”
Within days, his promising career which he’d spent years building, suddenly began to unravel – he was no longer able to fly.
Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy bought Stephen extra time, but nothing could stop the inevitable. By the time he celebrated his 26th birthday, Stephen was in a wheelchair. He died on 18th August 2014 surrounded by those who loved him most, including his faithful labrador Jack.
Peter added: “We knew nothing about brain tumours until Stephen’s diagnosis, so it was so shocking to learn that the level of funding going into researching a cure was so pitiful. I won’t be satisfied until we manage to change outcomes for brain tumour patients through more effective treatments and ultimately a cure.”
To donate inspired by Stephen, visit www.justgiving.com/page/tenforStephen
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Published Sunday 18th August