A young Grove Park resident has cut over 11 inches off her hair to raise awareness of brain tumours. The drastic haircut was inspired by a close friend who suffered from daily seizures caused by the disease and the hair will be made into a wig to support a young girl going through chemotherapy.

Sophia Kleanthous, a global campaigner for Nursing Now, made the chop after witnessing the devastation that her close friend, Andrew Scarborough, went through following his brain tumour diagnosis. Through the sponsored haircut, Sophia is raising awareness and over £200 for pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research.

Andrew, aged 27 from Ascot, was diagnosed with an incurable anaplastic astrocytoma while studying at Westminster University in 2013. After experiencing daily epileptic seizures and painful migraines, he underwent surgery and made significant dietary changes to help manage his symptoms. A recent MRI scan has shown no tumour growth and he has been able to come off medication, though Andrew’s epilepsy still affects his daily life and his tumour is expected to return.

Sophia, aged 25, said: “I was both excited and nervous to cut my hair off but I was inspired by Andrew, who is one of the most resilient and strongest people I know. I am also proud that my hair will be going to a young girl going through chemotherapy and I hope it brings her confidence during a difficult time.

“I want to continue to raising funds for Brain Tumour Research, a charity which is close to mine and Andrew’s hearts. Research is vital for finding a cure for this awful disease and I want to do whatever I can to make a difference.”

Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, they 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.

Tim Green, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We really appreciate Sophia’s support and thank her for helping us to raise awareness and funds for research into the disease. The money raised will help us in our mission to build a network of experts in sustainable research. We are funding dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

“For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer and stories like Andrew’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. Sadly, less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.”

Make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Sophia’s JustGiving page.


For further information, please contact:

Annie Slinn at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867239 or 07591 206545 or annie.slinn@braintumourresearch.org.

Notes to Editors

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK focused on funding sustainable research to find a cure for brain tumours. We have established a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, over £6 million was raised towards research and support during 2017.

We are campaigning to see the national spend on research into brain tumours increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia. The unprecedented success of our 2015 petition led to the 2016 Westminster Hall debate and Brain Tumour Research taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research with the report being published in 2018.

Key statistics on brain tumours:

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

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