A grandad who died from a brain tumour has been remembered at a research centre where scientists are searching for a cure for the disease.

Winston Harris was enjoying retirement in St Austell, Cornwall, when he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, after suffering from slurred speech and confusion. Sadly, he died in March 2015 just weeks after his diagnosis, aged 69.

Winston’s son Daryll Harris, who lives in Christchurch, placed two tiles on the Wall of Hope at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, based at the University of Portsmouth. Each tile, placed on Thursday 16^th August, represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research.

For the past two years, Daryll has organised a golf tournament for his colleagues at Lymington Precision Engineers, raising £15,000 for the Brain Tumour Research charity. This year’s fundraiser took place at Hamptworth Golf and Country Club and was one of the largest events in the course’s calendar.

Daryll, 44, a quality director, said: “Losing Dad made me determined to help others. I was honoured to place two tiles on the Wall of Hope and I enjoyed organising the annual golf day. I know Dad would be so proud of my achievements. My ultimate hope is that one day brain tumours can be cured and, by organising fundraising activities, we are one step closer to achieving this.”

Brain Tumour Research funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure. Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, 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.

Tim Green, Senior Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful for Daryll’s ongoing support. For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer and stories like Winston’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.”

If you would like to donate to the Brain Tumour Research charity, visit: www.braintumourresearch.org/donation/donate-now

For further information, please contact:
Annie Slinn at the Brain Tumour Research charity 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 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.