I am raising money for brain tumour research after the loss of my 25 year old Son Josh from a diffused midline glioma. I have crushing acrophobia, but am determined to overcome it to raise the most money we can, in order that one day we will find effective treatments and cures for these aggressive brain tumours.

Losing a child is devastating and the ripples of grief spread wide across our family, friends and wider community.

Josh started to get a headache on the 26th June 2023. Joshua’s headache was painful and made him sick, it was constant for a number of days and we all thought initially a migraine, but the headache’s persisted and 14 days later we knew this couldn’t continue so his Dad took him to hospital on Wednesday 12th July (no one has a headache for 2 weeks right?)!.. the hospital took bloods and urine which showed signs of infection. They CT scanned him and they decide that he has appendicitis ! Josh has no pain in his stomach (other than would be usual for someone that has been sick for 2 weeks) but they told us the pain on his head is ‘referred pain’! And out comes his appendix in the afternoon of the 13th. Sadly this was the start of a number of visits to the hospital where Joshua would be told it was a headache, migraine and that A&E was for people with life threatening conditions and he didn’t have one of those! 15th August, Joshua collapsed and the ambulance took him to a different hospital after hearing of out numerous visits. Josh arrives and they CT scan him, and spot something on there, compare with previous scan from the other hospital and it’s the same. An urgent MRI is carried out and we are told that Josh has a massive brain tumour.

Shortly after this diagnosis Josh starts having seizures. He stayed in the local hospital until 1st September when he is transferred to Kings . On 5th September Josh has biopsy. later the same week we are told he has a midline diffused glioma and he likely has 3 months to live, and there is sadly no treatment available to Josh due to the aggressiveness of the cancer. On 11th September We get moved to Greenwich and Bexley hospice. On 17th September 11.38 pm Josh takes his last breath, and is pronounced dead at 11.45pm. Just 32 days after finding out he had a brain tumour. We were with him, holding his hand and telling him how much we love him. 

Everyone at Queen Elizabeth, Kings and Bexley & Greenwich Cottage hospice fell in love with Josh from fellow patients to medical staff who were treating him, and he made strong bonds with so many. He was always out on the wards treating staff with something from his treat bag! He was always upbeat, brave and never complained.

 Two hours after his brain biopsy, thanks to brain tumour research pushing out Joshua’s story. Josh did an interview for ITV news at 6, with Rags Martel, he was adamant that he wanted to highlight the underspending in brain tumor research (with only 1% of national spend going towards research into brain tumours, yet it is the biggest killer of people under the age of 40 of all cancers). He also didn’t want anyone in the future to be misdiagnosed. He wanted any doctors watching to consider the potential of brain tumor when a young person presents with headache and sickness. Joshua’s story spread across the world and his story was told in the New York Times and Washington Post.

We miss him so much it physically hurts, he has left a massive hole in our family and our hearts are truly broken. He was taken too soon from us. We were blessed to have him in our lives and to have loved and been loved by him, and one day we will meet again and hold him in our arms.Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer… yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. This is unacceptable!

I am fundraising for Brain Tumour Research as they are the only national charity dedicated to funding long-term, sustainable research in the UK. Please help me fund the fight. Together we will find a cure.