Remembering Gill on the first anniversary

Brain Tumour Research

2 min read

Today (24^th October) we are honouring Gill Murphy, lost a year ago to a brain tumour, diagnosed in 2002 as low-grade, but later progressing to be a high-grade glioblastoma (GBM).

Gill kept her brain tumour diagnosis very private, but, alongside husband Jim and with huge support from her parents, Terry and Linda, they dedicated themselves to raising funds through their Fundraising Group Circle of Hope, supported by a wider circle of friends. The Group’s logo was designed by Linda to reflect “friends and family working together to create a circle of hope for better outcomes for brain tumour patients”.

Devastatingly, in 2020, 18 years after his wife’s initial diagnosis, Jim (pictured below with Gill) faced his own diagnosis with a brain tumour. It also turned out to be a highly aggressive GBM. Jim passed away on 22^nd November last year, just a month after Gill, leaving their son and daughter, James and Charlotte – both training to become scientists – without either parent.

Thanks to Gill and Jim, and now Terry and Linda, with the help of an ever-increasing community of supporters, Circle of Hope has raised an incredible total to date of more than £145,000 – enough to sponsor almost 53 days of research.

Terry said: “Gill and Jim dying has made us even more determined to fundraise. We are overwhelmed by all the support we get from a massive circle of family and friends. Even kind strangers wish us the best and give their support too.”

Gill's bereaved parents regularly have stalls at festivals and fairs where they sell items donated by friends, or even given to them by complete strangers, touched by their tragic story of losing both their daughter and son-in-law to such a cruel disease. Linda and Terry’s latest stall at Filey Food Festival raised £990!

We send our love and thoughts today and on Jim’s anniversary on 22^nd November to all of Gill and Jim’s loved ones. Their loss spurs us on to work ever harder to achieve our vision of finding a cure for all types of brain tumour.

You can make a donation to Circle of Hope here.