In Our Hearts

Keith from Milnrow in Rochdale died just three months after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM). His shock diagnosis came after an episode of ‘talking nonsense’ whilst in Portugal where doctors recommended he fly back to the UK to get checked out. A scan revealed a lesion on Keith’s brain and he had an operation to remove the tumour. Radiotherapy proved too gruelling for him and after a few sessions he became too poorly to continue and was placed on palliative care. Keith died at home with his family on 16 February 2020.

Businessman Kevan, who lived in Luckington, Wiltshire, died just seven weeks after his diagnosis with brain cancer, aged 62. His son Hugh, 35, who co-owned stove installation business ‘Flus4U’ with his dad, was devasted to learn that there were no treatment options available and was taken back to his own experience with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) during his final year of university. After his dad’s death, Hugh vowed to help other families affected by brain tumours and decided to take part in a 10k run for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Kevin O’Mahoney, a construction contractor, drummer and rock music enthusiast from Cannock, died just a year after his diagnosis with an aggressive brain tumour, aged 53. The tumour caused him to lose function of his left-side and problems to his eyesight. He left his wife Annette and their two daughters Paige and Eve, 22 and 20, and now his family are keen to fundraise in his memory, by hosting a charity concert for Brain Tumour Research.

We are grateful to Vicki Morrison, who worked with us in February 2020 to share Kyle's story here. Sadly, Kyle passed away on 15th October 2020. We remember Kyle as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. He will be forever in our hearts.

Eight-year-old Kyle Morrison was diagnosed with the least survivable of all childhood brain tumours six months ago. His devastated mum was given the nightmare news that he had a year to live. Now, half way through that “death sentence” she is desperately trying to raise the money needed for a clinical trial which she believes is their only hope.

Larsen Roberts, from Sherwood in Nottingham, was just five years old when, in December 2019, he died from a rare, high-grade medulloepithelioma (MEPL). Larsen was initially misdiagnosed with a lazy eye, and later an optic pathway glioma (OPG). After doctors finally discovered the aggressive nature of his tumour, Larsen underwent extensive treatment, including a gruelling course of chemotherapy, which ultimately proved to be too harsh for his young body to handle. Larsen leaves behind his mum Holly, dad Lyndon and younger brother, Jesse. Holly is now campaigning for more funding for brain tumour research to help prevent other families from experiencing the same devastation. 

Lee Patterson, from Whitley Bay, was 51 when he died from a brain tumour in November 2020, after a very short battle with the disease. Lee, the head of a large sixth form college in North Tyneside, left behind his beloved wife Kathy and their three sons William, 23, Thomas, 22 and Michael, 20. 

We are grateful to Leo, and his mum Rebecca, who worked with us in March 2021 to share his story here. Sadly, he passed away in December 2021. We remember Leo as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. He will be forever in our hearts.

Six-year-old Leo Middleton from Aberdeenshire in Scotland was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in November 2020, at the age of just five. His is an aggressive, high-grade brain tumour, most often occurring in children, with a median overall survival of between eight to 12 months. Leo is a much-loved brother to his siblings Caiden, nine, Mia, seven and Rose, one. His parents Rebecca and Barry, have been left devastated by this cruellest of diagnoses. 

A devoted husband and dad, Leon passed away in January 2018 leaving his wife and their two longed-for children, Colby who was just three and baby Willow, 11 months. Leon and Becky had been together for 11 years and endured the heartbreak of five miscarriages before their children arrived. Now widowed at the age of 28, Becky wants more investment in research into brain tumours to ensure others don’t suffer as she and her family have.

“It's heart-breaking what this devastating disease can do. In the final weeks, Leon was unable to talk, it robbed him of his mobility, and use of his right arm, leaving me to feed him and care for him. It's such a cruel disease and more needs to be done to find a cure as there are too many people going through this. Leon’s mum, his sister and my parents were all there as I lay with my head next to his and held in him my arms as he peacefully took his last breath.”

Having finished a highly decorated career in education, Lesley Kirby-Klappholz was looking forward to her retirement. Her professional life had spanned a long but enjoyable 38 years, which included 11 years of headship. However, devastatingly on 31 May 2019, Lesley was diagnosed with a brain tumour out of the blue. Three weeks later the diagnosis was compounded, following a biopsy which distinguished her tumour type as highly aggressive.