A university student living with a brain tumour will take on the Great North Run to help fund research into the disease, having completed the London Marathon earlier in the year.

James Wardle, 21, from Markfield outside Leicester, is again running to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity after being diagnosed with a slow-growing tumour two years ago. He is motivated by the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

James’s tumour, a dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour (DNET) is classed as low-grade and, following treatment, he has been able to continue his studies in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Sheffield. Having completed his third year, James has now started a placement year in Bristol before returning to university in 2019 for his final year.

James said: “I am really looking forward to running the Great North Run and, having raised over £7,600 through taking on the London Marathon, I am setting my sights on a target of £500 or hopefully even £1,000 this time.

“Earlier in the year, Nana (Marilyn Wardle from Barrow-upon-Soar) and I raised about £800 collecting inside the Waitrose in Mountsorrel. At least 20 of the people who donated had been affected by brain tumours, either personally or through loved ones, including two sets of parents of children with brain tumours. One parent told me that their daughter had been diagnosed with a similar tumour to me which had had a significant effect on her mental health, just like it did on mine, making her feel very much alone.

“Once again I am counting also on the support I’ve already had from my family and friends, which has been amazing.

“Being diagnosed with a brain tumour, after having a couple of really scary experiences which turned out to be seizures, has opened my eyes to the devastating impact this disease can have. A major motivation for my fundraising is that living with any kind of brain tumour, whether cancerous or not, has a major effect on people’s lives. I hope to raise money and awareness for research into brain tumours and inspire others to fundraise for this worthy cause too.”

James will be among thousands of runners taking part in the annual Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon. This year’s event takes place on 9^th September, with runners taking their marks in Newcastle city centre before setting off on the 13.1 mile course and finishing at the coast in South Shields.

A team of 42 will be taking part and raising money for Brain Tumour Research which funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Carol Robertson, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful for James’ continued support and wish him all the best for the event. James’ story reminds us all that less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers. We cannot allow this situation to continue.”

To sponsor James please go to www.justgiving.com/JamesWardleGreatNorthRun

For further information, please contact:
Liz Fussey at the Brain Tumour Research charity on 07811 068357 or liz@braintumourresearch.org

Notes to Editors

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours, and we are a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer.

We are building a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally.

We welcome recent funding announcements for research into brain tumours from the UK Government and Cancer Research UK – £65 million pledged over the next five years. However, this potential funding of £13 million a year comes with a catch – money will only be granted to quality research proposals and, due to the historic lack of investment, there may not be enough of these applications that qualify for grants from this pot.

We want research funding parity with breast cancer and leukaemia. We are calling for a £30-35 million investment every year for research into brain tumours in order to fund the basic research groundwork needed to accelerate the translation from laboratory discoveries into clinical trials and fast-track new therapies for this devastating disease.

The Brain Tumour Research charity is a powerful campaigning organisation and represents the voice of the brain tumour community across the UK. We helped establish and provide the ongoing Secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Brain Tumours (APPGBT). We are supporting the crucial APPGBT 2018 Inquiry into the economic and social impacts of brain tumours and will publish their report in the autumn. We are also a key influencer in the development strategy for the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. 

Key statistics on brain tumours:

• Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age
• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer
• Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours
• In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour
• Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia
• Brain tumours kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer
• Brain tumours kill more women under 35 than breast cancer
• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers

Please quote Brain Tumour Research as the source when using this information. Additional facts and statistics are available from our website. We can also provide case studies and research expertise for the media.