The Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Imperial College London will open its doors to brain tumour patients, their families and friends, and those who have lost a loved one to the disease today.
They will have the opportunity to tour the Centre where pioneering research is being undertaken to improve treatments and outcomes. Many will also place tiles on the Wall of Hope representing the days of research they have sponsored.
Amongst those attending the event will be Vicky Todd, who lost her dad Chris to a glioblastoma (GBM) in 2016.
Vicky said: “Dad’s consultant told us he was having ‘five star gold standard’ treatment for his brain tumour, but the treatment has barely changed for decades and there is no cure for GBM.
“I couldn’t sit by and watch Dad die so I set about raising funds for Brain Tumour Research. At the outset I was doing it to make my dad well again, but now I’m doing it in his memory and to help others.”
Since losing Chris, Vicky has set up a Fundraising Group called In Chris’ Memory, which has raised an incredible sum of more than £41,000 to help find a cure. Today, she will place 12 tiles dedicated to Chris on the Wall of Hope.
She and other attendees will also have the opportunity to meet some of the scientists who are making ground-breaking progress in the hunt to improve treatments, including the recent discovery of a potential new treatment which could dramatically improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy for patients diagnosed with GBM – the tumour which took Chris’ life.
Vicky added: “Dad told me all the time how proud he was of me. I am determined to put all my energy into doing what I can to raise money for research.”
Keep your eyes peeled for a recap of the event on our blog.