Hi, my name is Joanna, and I never imagined I would be writing something like this.

In September last year, I was celebrating my 50th birthday in Greece with my partner Mark. I remember lying on a sunbed thinking how incredibly full and happy my life was. Then in a single moment everything changed. I was unable to speak. Mark reacted immediately and I was rushed to hospital. Within 24 hours, our world fell apart.

I was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma — an aggressive and life-limiting brain tumour. A diagnosis like this doesn’t just shake your world; it shatters it. One day you are planning the future, and the next you are being told your prognosis is 12–18 months.

Since that day, I have undergone awake brain surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I have faced each stage with determination and strength because I am not ready to stop fighting for my life.

While I am still undergoing chemotherapy, there are no further treatment options available to me on the NHS beyond the current standard care.

After extensive research and medical consultations, in March I will begin specialist immunotherapy treatment at IOZK, a clinic in Cologne, Germany. This treatment works by stimulating my immune system to recognise and target tumour cells. It is not a cure, but it offers hope — hope of more time and hope of preserving my quality of life.

The full treatment programme, including travel and medical costs, is estimated at approximately £100,000.

I have been truly overwhelmed by the kindness of family and friends — and even people I have never met — who have asked how they can help. This page offers a way for those who wish to support me to do so, and I am sincerely grateful for every contribution, whatever the amount.

With the support of Brainstrust, all donations will go directly towards my care. Any excess funds, along with Gift Aid, will be used to support others facing similar diagnoses.

If you are unable to donate, simply sharing this page would mean more than you know.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for your kindness, your support, and for helping me continue this fight.

With love and hope,

Joanna

Joanna James and the appeal Joanna's Journey, is a restricted income fundraising partnership with, and under the umbrella of brainstrust, a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as Charity No. 1114634, and registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as Charity No. SC044642. brainstrust are providing administrative and fundraising support to this appeal, and others of a similar nature. brainstrust does this to help people access novel therapies and treatment more easily and safely.

Brainstrust’s mission is to help people in the UK to feel less afraid, less alone, more confident and more resourced following a brain tumour diagnosis. Gift Aid recovered, surplus funds, and funds that are not applied for the primary purpose of this appeal will be used for public benefit to help others diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Brainstrust registered office: 4 Yvery Court, Castle Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7QG, UK. www.brainstrust.org.uk