A man who revealed his brain tumour diagnosis on TV show ‘First Dates’ has marked the end of his 12-month chemotherapy treatment by completing the Royal Parks Half Marathon.

Adam Carroll, from Winchmore Hill, was diagnosed with a grade 3 brain tumour in June 2017 after collapsing on a work trip to New York. The 34-year-old IT analyst underwent emergency surgery and soon after started a one-year course of chemotherapy. Adam was signed off work for nine months while he underwent the treatment and, in that time, he took up running. He recalls: “Up until a year ago, I couldn’t even run for the bus, now I’m doing 10Ks and half marathons. Coping with a brain tumour diagnosis isn’t easy but running has really helped my mental wellbeing. Funnily enough, since being diagnosed, I’m in better shape than ever before.”

With the help of his close friend Lee Collins, who also ran in the event, Adam has raised over £1,200 for the Brain Tumour Research charity which supports sustainable research at dedicated UK Centres of Excellence whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally.

Adam, who works for stockbroking company JB Drax Honoré, added: “I’m so pleased I’ve done it, and to raise all that money for such an important cause too is brilliant. My hope is that one day, no one has to go through the traumatic experience I did and that a brain tumour cure is found.”

Janice Wright, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Congratulations to Lee and Adam for completing the event, we are extremely grateful for their support. It’s incredible that in the midst of his own treatment, Adam has been focused on fundraising to help others suffering from brain tumours and we hope he will inspire others.

“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 towards this devastating disease. With the help of people like Adam and Lee, we’re determined to help change this.”

To donate to Adam and Lee, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ziggyandadsroyalparkshalf

For further information, please contact:
Farel James at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867221 or 07592 502708 or Farel.James@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
• 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.