A man who lost his close friend to a brain tumour has raised thousands to help fund scientific research into finding a cure for the disease.

Johnathan Poole, aged 45 from Wokingham, chose to fundraise for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research after his friend Ieuan Jones died from a brain tumour in May 2016. Johnathan ran the London Marathon in April 2017, raising £4,300 to go towards research into the disease.

On Wednesday 11^th April, Johnathan was invited by the charity to visit the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University London to see how all money raised contributes towards research. Joined by his partner Liz, Johnathan also had the opportunity to place a tile on the Wall of Hope at the research centre.

The centre, one of four receiving funding from the charity, is focused on research to improve treatments for patients with brain tumours and, ultimately, finding a cure. Each tile laid on the wall represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research.

Led by Prof. Silvia Marino, in collaboration with University College London, the team at the centre are studying glioblastoma tumours – one of the most aggressive and deadly types of brain cancer and the tumour that Ieuan died from, aged only 43.

Johnathan, Head of Land Product at TravelUp Group PLC, said: “It’s an honour to visit one of the Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence and see where all the research takes place. Running the marathon and raising money for the charity was such a big achievement of mine and I’m so pleased to see how it’s making a difference to researchers.

“The tile symbolises not only the money I’ve raised for research into brain tumours but also commemorates my dear friend who is sorely missed by so many.

“I won’t be running the London Marathon this year, but I’ll be at the Brain Tumour Research cheer point to support all of this year’s runners.”

Ieuan, a trainer for Emirates Airline, was diagnosed in December 2014 and sadly lost his life less than two years later in May 2016, leaving behind his wife Kelly and three-year-old daughter Sienna.

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.

Michael Thelwall, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Johnathan has raised an incredible amount for Brain Tumour Research and we’re really pleased he has been to see the research taking place at the Queen Mary University London, and also place a tile on the Wall of Hope. Stories like Ieuan’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research go to https://www.braintumourresearch.org/donation

For further information, please contact:
Farel Williams at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867239 or 07592 867239 or Farel.Williams@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.