Our supporter and campaigner, Lydia, lost her friend Phil Blackmore to a brain tumour. He was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma but sadly passed away unexpectedly only eight months later, in December 2016.

Read Phil's story.

To deal with her grief and help to make a change, she dived into campaigning.

How did I find out about Brain Tumour Research and it’s campaigning?

Phil’s sister initially set up a fundraising page for Brain Tumour Research, as this was the charity Phil’s family had chosen to support. I did the same. I think it was a Facebook post from the charity about the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) that caught my eye.

How did I get involved?

I emailed my MP about the APPGBT to tell him why I am interested in brain tumours and asked him to attend the next meeting to learn more. He actually responded, so I went along for the first time in February 2018 and have been attending ever since.

What is the most rewarding thing about campaigning?

It’s feeling like you are making a difference, and I also do it to keep the memory of my friend alive. I hope he would be proud of me for the campaigning I do.

Before Phil’s diagnosis, I wasn’t really aware of brain tumours, especially the historical underfunding of research. I want to do what I can so that others don’t go through what he did, or what I have been through losing a close friend. I believe that together we will find a cure and I will do my bit to support that.

Why do we need more people to campaign?

More people campaigning means more MPs getting involved, which in turn means more support from these key decision makers and influencers, leading to increased awareness and greater investment for vital research into brain tumours!

How can people become activists?

Simply email your MP and/or register to campaign with Brain Tumour Research.

We’ll be in touch shortly afterwards with information about our latest campaigning activities. By signing up, you will also be notified when APPGBT meetings are taking place and we’ll provide you with a template letter you can send to your local MP inviting them to the event. If you don’t know who your local MP is, our team can help.

Related reading:

• Why did I set up a fundraising group?
• NHS Scotland Event