Keep Goin Owen - Brain Tumour Treatment Fund

Team fundraiser

Jane Copland and Gill Copland are organizing this fundraiser.

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Back in November, 2020 Owen at age 20 was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour called 'Glioblastoma'. He was also told that the tumour had spread through his cerebral spinal fluid to his spine. He had to have semi-emergency surgery and a 6 week intense brain and spinal radiotherapy course which ended in February. Owen was in his third year in Liverpool John Moores University studying drama and wants to be a director one day. He loves listening to music, playing PlayStation games (hence his gamer tag: SlyWalker), watching Star Wars and is very good at building PCs from scratch, which he has done for family and friends.

However after he finished his radiotherapy & was awaiting chemotherapy Owen became unwell after a drop in steroids and trialing not taking anti-sickness medication. He first became nauseous, then his heart-rate dropped to 45, his blood pressure also dropped & Owen was sent home on drivers for end-of-life medication. Within weeks he became bed bound with muscle wastage whilst taking high doses of medications.

We were told in March 2021 Owens death was imminent.

He was offered no more treatment and back in July, after our family asking for an MRI, we were told there was progression. This was no surprise as Owens tumour is aggressive, but Owen was actually making improvements, mentally & physically. Firstly he came off his drivers and took his medicine and supplements orally. He has been awake and more alert, having days out & doing physio thanks to his local gym stepping in and providing him with a personal trainer.

Owen is aware his cancer is aggressive, but he doesn't want to die without trying to get life saving treatment. He has been asking for treatment for a while now but we were told he does not meet the performance markers to try anything.

We have been researching alternative treatments for Owen since his diagnosis. There are SO many different treatments offered abroad for the treatment of brain tumours that are unavailable in the UK...

Today, in a private consultation Owen was offered to try chemotherapy whilst we look into getting a full tumour analysis in Germany. This is to see whether there are any private medicines tailored to Owens mutations or if a peptide vaccine (immunotherapy) could be made to help Owens body fight the cancer.

The price of the treatment is going to be costly so we are asking for people to kindly give what they can or even share the link to help get awareness out of Owens story. Owen deserves to have a chance at life and the very least, try to prolong his life. He wasn't predicted to live beyond March, but instead Owen reached his 21st birthday, graduated from his drama course at university and has been out and about to many places including the safari park, cinemas & seaside.

Owen is the baby of the family and is close with his mum, dad, brother John & sister Jane (& Corey the dog). We will do anything for him and he deserves to be given a chance.