The brain tumour community is welcoming the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours’ (APPGBT) landmark report calling for urgent action to help those affected by the devastating disease.
Pathway to a Cure – Breaking Down the Barriers calls out the current system as unfit for purpose and its key recommendations include that the Government should recognise brain tumour research as a “critical priority”, ring fencing £110 million of current and new funding.
Amongst those supporting the report is bereaved mum Louise Fox (pictured left with husband Matt), whose son George (pictured right) died from a glioblastoma (GBM) last year, at the age of just 13. Speaking to ITV Anglia, Louise explained why her family is welcoming the report. She said: “If that money had been put forward for research when it was meant to have been, George might still be here today.”
“It's not good enough for other families to go through what we're going through now. To face our lives without our son is just devastating for all of us. We are heartbroken every single day. It just doesn't go away.”
Campaigning became an “integral part” of Penny Church’s life after her son Finlay was diagnosed with a GBM. Sadly, Finlay died in November 2015, aged 11. Penny explained why she is backing the report on BBC Midlands Today where she said: “Naively we thought that there would be more child-friendly options and more treatment options for Fin. It's nine years since he was diagnosed and sadly things have not moved forwards.”
During the same programme, Peter Realf explained how his son Stephen received the same treatment as Neil Armstrong’s daughter was given in 1962. Peter attended the report launch on Tuesday. He said: “Our family’s situation is far from unique, and survival rates for brain cancer patients remain largely unchanged over the last 30 years”, adding that he was “determined” to continue to campaign for a cure part of Stephen’s legacy.
The recommendations of this report drafted by Brain Tumour Research will guide our campaigning priorities over the coming months. If you would like to join us as a campaigner, please click here.