On Friday 12th September, during what should have been a joyful trip to Cornwall to cheer on his beloved Dale, Sam’s world changed in an instant. What began as a routine weekend away became the moment a brain tumour was unexpectedly discovered, a shock that no one could have prepared for.

In the eight weeks that followed, Sam faced a journey most of us can barely imagine.

On Friday 7th November, Sam had an awake craniotomy, and he was awake for about five hours during the procedure. The tumour was roughly 4 cm in size, and he had actually been living with it for over five

years - it only came to light after he began having seizures.

Because the tumour had attached itself to the speech area of his brain, the surgeons couldn’t safely remove all of it. The plan now is for Sam to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy to hopefully destroy the remaining cells.

Sam is also taking part in a trial, hoping that what he’s going through will help others in the future.

Today, Sam is on the mend, embracing each new day with the determination and spirit we all know so well. But the journey isn’t over. With a significant amount of the tumour removed, Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy awaits in the coming months, bringing with it both physical and financial challenges.

Although the surgery was a success, the impact on Sam’s life has been significant. That is why his family and close friends have come together to organise this fundraising event: a chance for our community to rally around Sam, to lift some of the weight from his shoulders, and to help him focus on what matters most: getting well.

Any support, no matter how small will be greatly appreciated by us all and will go a long way to supporting Sam.