A bereaved woman will take a step out of her comfort zone as she helps scientists searching for a brain tumour cure.

Debbie Carpenter, 48, who lives in Hedge End, Southampton, is taking on the Great South Run, after losing her dad, Ian Burrows, to a brain tumour.

Ian, from Alton, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme – a highly aggressive type of tumour – and, despite having radiotherapy, sadly passed away in April 2017, aged 68, just 11 months after his diagnosis.

Now Debbie, mum to Ian, 26, Emily, 24, and Chloe, 22, is determined to pay tribute to her dad by raising money for the Brain Tumour Research charity. Brain Tumour Research funds dedicated UK Research Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Debbie, a commercial and events manager, said: “This year has been the toughest of my life. I loved my dad so much and I miss him every day. Having taken on the Great South Run last year, I’m feeling excited about running again this year. I’ve had great support from my husband, Seth, and am looking forward to the fantastic atmosphere on the day. I’m driven to raise awareness and funds for this vital cause.”

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.

The Great South Run, which starts and finishes on the Esplanade in Southsea, takes place on Sunday 21^st October. Debbie, originally from Alton, will join 20,000 runners on the day.

Tim Green, Senior Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful for Debbie’s support and wish her the best of luck in completing the event. Ian’s story reminds us that less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers. We cannot allow this situation to continue.”

To sponsor Debbie, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/debbie-carpenter3

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.