Rugby father who lost son to brain tumour welcomes Government research investment
Rugby resident Peter Realf, who has worked tirelessly with the charity Brain Tumour Research for more than 10 years, is welcoming a significant Government investment in research into brain tumours.
More than £13 million is being made available and, early next year, further announcements will be made for funding into clinical trials for brain tumour patients.
After Peter lost his son Stephen, aged 26, in 2014 to a brain tumour, he found purpose in campaigning with Brain Tumour Research for greater investment in research into brain tumours to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients and their families. Stephen had been destined to be a high flyer in the RAF.
On Stephen’s first anniversary, his family launched a petition which gained over 120,000 signatures, leading to a Westminster Hall debate and the establishment of a working group on brain tumours.
Peter said: “Stephen’s diagnosis with a brain tumour came six years after I was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia. The difference in treatment options for the two types of cancer is stark. I was told that because of increased investment in research into leukaemia, I had an 80% survival prognosis (30 years previously, this had been just 20%).
“Whilst I’m proud of the role my family and countless others like ours have played in campaigning for change for brain tumour patients, I am annoyed that Stephen didn’t stand a chance and really frustrated that despite the success of the petition in 2015/16 and the Government’s promise of £40 million in 2018, it has taken until now to see more of that money.
"It is more than a decade since Stephen died and we’re still waiting for brain tumour patients to gain the treatment breakthroughs that other cancers like leukaemia have.”
Brain Tumour Research will be a partner in a new National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Brain Tumour Research Consortium, alongside other charities, dozens of hospitals, universities, cancer centres and patients. The landmark announcement will see a coordinated UK-wide effort to transform outcomes for people living with brain tumours and their families.
The announcement of the £13.7 million investment is the culmination of a decade of campaigning work by Brain Tumour Research and supporters to increase funding by the Government into research for the disease.
Dan Knowles, CEO at Brain Tumour Research, said: “This is a significant step forward and we welcome this crucial investment in a disease that has been chronically underfunded.
“Today and every day, 35 people in the UK are told they have a brain tumour. We will continue to campaign for and alongside those people and their families to unlock Government funding for research and innovation. We look forward to further announcements leading to vital greater investment, scientific breakthroughs, and clinical trials that will change the story for the brain tumour community.”
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.
The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.
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