My younger brother Matt was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020, aged just 56, following a routine eye check at Specsavers! He was sent straight to The University Hospital, Coventry and received immediate open brain surgery which was partially successful for 12 months or so. Matt unfortunately and very sadly passed away in February 2025.

My youngest daughter, Maddie, wanted to do something 'significant' to help raise funds for the research into brain tumours for the sake of others in the future. She asked me over Christmas, can we climb Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at 5,895 m above sea level?. This is 500m higher than Everest Base Camp, so a significant challenge, Maddie is 18 years old and a student at Oxford University. We will make this trek and adventure in June this year (2026).

To train for this event we are both running the Leeds Half Marathon, walking weekends in the Black Mountains, I'm cycling from Paris to Bordeaux and generally keeping fit and getting our lungs ready for the altitude.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we're moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.

We're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And we're doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can't wait.