In November last year, my dad became unwell. He wasn’t quite himself and was admitted to hospital, where we found out he had a brain tumour.

He had surgery mid-November (a craniotomy), where they removed the tumour and sent it away for analysis so we could understand what we were dealing with.

The week before Christmas, we got the news we had been dreading. It was a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an extremely aggressive and incurable brain tumour, with an average life expectancy of around 12–18 months.

Since then, we’ve been navigating this as a family through treatment, uncertainty, and all the highs and lows that come with it.

The reason I’m speaking out now is because I want to raise awareness.

Brain tumours are hugely underfunded, with only around 1% of the national cancer research budget going towards them despite how devastating they are.

I want to change that, even in a small way.

I am raising money for Brain Tumour Research. My target is £6000, which is £1000 for each month that my dad has battled his brain tumour so far.

This cause means everything to my family.

We might not be able to save my dad, but raising awareness and funds could help save someone else’s and that would mean the world to me.

It’s time we stop overlooking brain tumours. They kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer and that needs to be talked about!