Together 4 James: Fighting Glioblastoma, One Step at a Time

It all started in May 2024. Little did we know, during those cherished family trips and fun-filled work drinks, that a beast was quietly growing in James’s brain. This beast grew so large that one day, James forgot who he was and who his loved ones were. I thought things couldn’t get worse, but they did—much, much worse.

A few hours later, my world shattered when doctors told me that the mass in his brain was a tumour, and they needed to remove it immediately, or he wouldn’t make it. My heart broke as I wondered, “What am I going to tell our children?”

Three days later, after the swelling in his brain was reduced, they operated. We waited in agony for what felt like a lifetime. Then, two weeks later, we received the news that would forever change our lives. It was a terminal glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumour, and they gave James only 15 months to live.

I can never fully explain the wave of pain that tore through me in that moment. The feeling of knowing that he was going to die, and soon, is something no one should ever have to endure. "That’s not enough time," James said through tears. But we decided we wouldn’t give up. We decided to fight for more time—any time we could get.

There are options, but those options come with a hefty price. Life-extending treatments are available, but they cost more than we ever imagined. That’s where we need your help.

Everyone around us has rallied—friends, neighbours, work colleagues—everyone is stepping forward to help us. We continue to fight, and now we walk. In a show of support and love, James’s colleagues and close friends at Sempre are walking from Richmond Station to Westminster Bridge on the 29th September. Each step is a step closer to helping James get the treatment he desperately needs.

Sempre colleagues who have stood by James and me will dust off their Star Wars outfits (yes, we’re quite confident they already own them!) and walk for James. They will walk for his treatment. They will walk to help us beat this beast.

We need your help to raise the funds necessary for this life-extending treatment. Every donation, every share, and every step forward counts. Together, we can give James the time he deserves with his family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

With hope,

Sonia, James, Thomas and Eliza