I am raising money for Brain Tumour Research and Support (BTRS) to say ‘thank you’ for the amazing treatment and help that my family received when our son needed lifesaving neurosurgery.

Ben suffered night-time back pain and disturbed sleep over several months. This developed into difficulty walking and extreme pain at night in his back and legs. He was diagnosed with, and had surgery to remove, a rare, benign tumour in his spine. 

Needless to say, it was a scary time for all.  As with any operation, there were risks. The care, compassion and humility shown by the NHS team helped us through our worst worries. 

Ben’s neurosurgery was a great success.  That is why it is especially rewarding for us to see Ben, a few years on, thriving in sport - competing nationally in cyclo-cross and representing Yorkshire in the road cycling stage race event the Youth Tour of Scotland 2019. 

Ben was treated by consultant neurosurgeon Paul Chumas, co-founder of BTRS, a Leeds-based charity funding brain tumour research and supporting people affected across Yorkshire. 

We will always be grateful for the care provided by Mr Chumas and his colleagues at Leeds General Infirmary. We want to say  ’thank you’ whenever we can by helping to fundraise for BTRS. 

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s. Yet brain tumour research receives less than 2% of national cancer research funding. So, please support this great cause.

On April 28th, I’m looking forward to returning to my former stomping ground to run the London Marathon for a second time - and hopefully, in a faster time! Thanks so much to my running club, Otley AC, for providing me with a ballot place!