Our son Karl Martin, born 1979, a father of two children, Alisha and Alfie, was diagnosed in 2006 following a grand mal seizure with a Grade 2 Glioma.

He has suffered with the condition since his original seizure, having MRI Scans on a regular basis but following a biopsy in March 2010 which showed that his tumour had progressed to a Grade 3 Astrocytoma, he was told at this point he only had approximately 18 months to live and that an operation could cause paralysis of his right hand side including arm, face, speech etc so he underwent a six week course of radiotherapy at St James’s Hospital, Leeds in May and June 2010, luckily for us this halted the progress of his tumour and his condition was stable until his scan in January 2016 showed a change so Karl took the brave decision to undertake an awake craniotomy in late June 2016, unfortunately he has suffered weekly seizures since his operation and is currently struggling to deal with this side effect.

We have been fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness since 2008 to highlight just how devastating this type of cancer is and the lack of funding it receives, Karl has appeared on Radio Sheffield (Toby Foster Show), Radio Leeds (One on One with Liz Green), Calendar News on ITV, We Are Barnsley Radio, been in The Yorkshire Post, Barnsley Chronicle and Sheffield Star.

In November 2015 we were lucky enough to be part of a group of Brain Tumour patients, carer's etc. that attended a tour of The Leeds Research Laboratory where we observed some of the latest pioneering techniques being tested on Brain Cancer cells, Karl was interviewed by BBC Look North during this tour to discuss his story.

Karl’s children are his life and I know he can’t bear the thought of leaving them without a daddy so his strength and courage get him through every day no matter how bad he is feeling, this would not be possible without the love, support and encouragement of family, friends and strangers alike.

So you may think why do we both go to all this trouble when it won’t help Karl as his Tumour is going to take his life at some point, all I can say to you is we know many people who have lost their battle or are still battling Brain Tumours since Karl was diagnosed and have seen the devastation it causes, so if our hard work on a daily basis means that just one other family in the future doesn’t have to suffer the same heartbreak, stress and suffering that mine have had to contend with for years and continue to deal with then it is all worth it.

Karl also believes that his children need to understand when they are older just how much he fought for himself and others and wants to show them that caring, compassion, selflessness, desire, courage and strength are life skills second to no others and no matter what they face in life if he sets that example for them that they can conquer anything that is thrown at them throughout their lives, its his legacy to them and he hopes it will help them live happy, successful and worthwhile lives.

Thank you for taking time to visit our Just Giving Page.

Best Wishes and Good Health from all at Karl’s Team xxx