Donate to help fund Kas' life-saving treatment

This is an appeal to raise funds to allow Kas to continue receiving pioneering treatment in Germany in hope it saves his life.

Malaga - 2019

Kas' summer BBQ in Malaga - 2017

Ashley's graduation - 2021

Thetford Forest - 2022

Roland Garros, Paris - 2018

Court Philippe-Chatrier - 2022

Kas was born in Bedford and has lived here for most of his life. He is the Plant Manager for Robertshaw’s Bedford site and has been with the company for over 36 years. He has been married to Jazz for 33 years and is father to two sons – Aaron and Ashley. Kas is very much a people person – he loves spending time with friends and family. He enjoys going on regular holidays, DIY, cooking and sports.

In April 2023, Kas began preparing for one of his infamous family barbeques to enjoy the Easter weekend as he always had done. However, this did not come to light, as he spent the entire weekend in bed with a splitting headache that just wouldn’t budge even with painkillers. Initially, we all thought it was work related with the long hours he had been working and several business trips he had taken to navigate various projects he was leading.

With Kas in excruciating pain and the headache not getting any better, we took him to Bedford’s A&E where he was then admitted for several days. After various scans, a tumour at the back of Kas’ brain in the occipital lobe, responsible for vision, was revealed. The Bedford team were unable to determine the extent of the tumour and Kas’ options to treat but he was quickly referred to the area specialist hospital – Addenbrooke’s. Within a few weeks, Kas had various other scans and a biopsy to determine more information about the location, severity and type of tumour.

On the 15th May 2023, we were called into a consultation to discuss the results. They were not what we were hoping for at all. Grade 4 Glioblastoma – incurable and inoperable.

The next few days were somewhat of a blur as Kas was transferred to the Oncology team to commence his first course of Chemotherapy. The team were very good but were limited in what they could offer due to the type of tumour and it’s location. With no cure for Glioblastoma, any treatment was to prolong Kas’ life by a few months rather than save it.

We immediately started to network and research other possible options we could explore. We soon found out, there really is not much out there with any real promise. After various consultations, including with experts in London we had not been offered much hope.

Research into the space, alongside navigating the Chemotherapy schedule for Kas was challenging but we eventually came across a treatment with huge potential, only available in Germany called OV (Oncolytic Virus) Immunotherapy. We, of course, had many questions and lots of uncertainty around taking such a huge step away from the conventional treatment path here in the UK (Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy).

The main factors that convinced us to pursue the treatment in Germany were:

• We discovered the treatment on a reputable UK based brain tumour charity’s website. The initial data/results from the treatment has shown promising results and offers us potential.

• We had a lengthy discussion with the lead consultant Dr. Benjamin Gesundheit who, although could not guarantee any results, 100% assured us that his team would try their very best to cure and not just relieve symptoms.

• We spoke with two very nice families who are based in the UK who’s loved ones have already started the treatment. They had nothing but positive things to say about the whole process.

• Kas frequently uses his Plant Manager approach in everyday life – if you keep doing the same things, you’ll keep getting the same results.

In October 2023, we flew to Munich for Kas to have a specialist PET-FET MRI scan. The next day we took a 5 hour train to Düsseldorf where we met the team. To no surprise, results from the scan showed the chemotherapy was not working. It also provided key structural and metabolic information for the team. Using this information, Kas then underwent a short surgery to fit an implant in his brain called an Ommaya. This Ommaya is to allow the team to inject the Oncolytic Viruses which attack the tumour cells whilst leaving the healthy cells untouched – please see links below for more detail on GBM and the treatment Kas is having.

After just over two weeks in Germany, the operation and treatment went well. Since the initial operation, we’ve been going every four weeks to receive further treatment. Last month, Kas had another PET-FET MRI scan in Munich to see how effective the treatment had been. The scan showed largely positive results – two of the three main areas of tumour activity have either completely gone or reduced in activity. The third area however, had grown slightly, just beyond the reach of the original Ommaya.

Kas then underwent another short surgery to fit another set of Ommayas, which the team feel will better target this third and hopefully final area. Kas was given 9 months to live. Here at 10 months, although his vision, short-term memory and leg strength have seen some deterioration, he is still positive and motivated to keep fighting. But we need your help. We would greatly appreciate any donations to continue to fund this innovative treatment for Kas.

Thank you.

Kas, Jazz, Aaron & Ashley

Glioblastoma - https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/brain-tumour-diagnosis-treatment/types-of-brain-tumour-adult/glioblastoma/

Novel treatments for Glioblastoma - https://brainstrust.org.uk/glioblastoma/gbm-treatment-trials/#:~:text=Oncolytic%25252525252520virotherapy%25252525252520(OVT)%25252525252520is%25252525252520a,while%25252525252520inducing%25252525252520antitumor%25252525252520immune%25252525252520responses.

ATGesundheit Institute - https://www.atgesundheitinstitute.com/

Hyperthermia - https://www.hyperthermie-bochum.de/

Oncolytic Virus treatment - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.00702/full