A Wellesbourne man who completed the Cotswold Way 107-mile multi-day ultra-marathon in June this year to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research has visited a research centre where scientists are focused on finding a cure for the devastating disease which took his dad.

Malcolm Boyd’s dad, Arthur, was diagnosed in December 2015 with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive and deadly, and sadly the most common, type of brain tumour. There were few treatment options available and certainly no cure. Arthur passed away in June 2016, leaving his wife, three sons and seven grandchildren broken-hearted.

Malcolm’s “100 miles for Dad” (which took place on and around the first anniversary of losing his beloved dad) helped raise awareness of brain tumours which kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, as well as raising an incredible £19,500 to help fund vital research.

On Wednesday 11^th October, Malcolm and his wife Caroline travelled to Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) to place seven tiles in his dad’s memory on the Wall of Hope at Brain Tumour Research’s Centre of Excellence. Each tile represents a day’s research sponsored by Malcolm’s fundraising.

They were given a tour of the research facility at QMUL and heard from lead scientist Prof Silvia Marino about the work taking place there which, in collaboration with University College London, is focusing on specific research into a greater understanding of GBMs with the intention of discovering more effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

Malcolm said: “I am committed to help raise awareness, and funding for research is incredibly important. Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers. For GBM patients, like my father, the survival prognosis is usually 12 to 18 months, but in his case, sadly he survived just six months.

“An increase in funding for research into brain tumours is vital if we are to prevent other families enduring the same painful journey as ours.”

Brain Tumour Research is 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.

To donate to Brain Tumour Research in memory Malcolm’s dad please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/100milesfordad  

 

For further information, please contact:
Liz Fussey at Brain Tumour Research on 07811 068357 or Liz@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 are building a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, £5.5 million was raised towards research and support during 2016.

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 charity is celebrating a year of high-profile campaigning on this issue following the unprecedented success of its petition in 2016. Following that, Brain Tumour Research is now taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research.

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 
• 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.