A husband who lost his wife to a brain tumour is holding a fundraising concert to help scientists who are working towards a cure for the disease.

Marjan Williams, of Helston, died less than a year after her diagnosis with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) – a highly aggressive type of tumour – despite enduring surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Now, marking the first anniversary of her death, Marjan’s husband Neil Williams, 71, has organised a show in aid of the Brain Tumour Research charity.

Highlights of the evening, which takes place on Saturday 2 March at Helston’s Masonic Hall, will include a performance from four-piece band Flipside, who will play a set of rock n’ roll classics to the latest floor-filling grooves. Doors open at 7pm and there will also be support from Paul Chinn, a solo singer-songwriter.

Local businesses have offered their support for the charity concert by donating raffle prizes, and Black Lion Catering, based in Newquay, will provide a delicious party supper.

Helston resident Neil hopes to raise £2,740 on the night, which is equivalent to the cost of one day of research at one of Brain Tumour Research’s four Centres of Excellence.

Neil said: “As it approached the first anniversary of Marjan’s death, I decided to do something special to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. Fundraising has given me a huge sense of purpose and I hope that people give generously on the night. I’m aiming to sell more than 100 tickets and I’m very grateful to the support I’ve already received from friends, family and local businesses.

“It was heart-breaking to lose Marjan so suddenly. She was not only my wife but my soul partner. Not a day goes by that I don’t have tears in my eyes, life has been very difficult without her and I miss her every day.”

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated Research Centres of Excellence in the UK; it also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is calling for an annual spend of £35m in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.

Amy White, community fundraising manager in the South West, said: “We are extremely grateful for Neil’s support and would like to encourage members of the local community to come along to the concert. It promises to be an exciting and fun way to raise money for this vital cause.

“Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers, and we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.”

To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Neil’s JustGiving page go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Neil-Williams633

To purchase a ticket for the concert, email neil.williams6@sky.com or call 01326 572154/ 01326 563925

For further information, please contact:

Annie Slinn at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867221 or 07592 502708 or annie.slinn@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 ground-breaking research 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) which published its report Brain Tumours A cost too much to bear? in 2018. Led by the charity, the report examines the economic and social impacts of a brain tumour diagnosis. We are also represented on the Steering Group 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
• Historically, 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.