Chris Todd, a former miner, also from Whitehaven, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour when he was 63 after suffering violent headaches and stroke-like symptoms.
He underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in Newcastle, his nearest neurological unit, but sadly continued to deteriorate and passed away aged 65 in November 2016, leaving his wife Audrey, children Vicky and Karl and six grandchildren.
Vicky said: “Dad’s consultant told us he was having ‘five-star gold standard’ treatment for his brain tumour, but the treatment has barely changed for decades and there is no cure for glioblastoma.
“Shockingly, the survival prognosis for this aggressive type of brain tumour is typically just 12 to 18 months.
“I couldn’t sit by and watch Dad die so I set about raising funds for the charity Brain Tumour Research.
“At the outset I was doing it to make my dad well again, but now I’m doing it in his memory and to help others.”
Vicky Todd and partner Graeme McDermott (Image: Supplied)
Vicky, 49, who works in the civic nuclear industry, and her partner Graeme McDermott, were invited this week by the charity Brain Tumour Research to its dedicated Centre of Excellence at Imperial College, London.
Here, a surgical team under leading neurosurgeon Mr Kevin O’Neill is exploring ways to develop new tools, techniques and procedures to improve and optimise the complex science of neurosurgery, including Raman spectroscopy, a method of using light from a laser to identify molecules within a brain tumour.
This could enable neurosurgeons to determine the type of brain tumour during surgery and guide them on how much of the tumour to remove.
One their visit, Vicky and Chris placed 12 tiles dedicated to Chris on the ‘Wall of Hope’. Each tile placed represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research – and celebrates the fundraising achievements of the family or supporter involved.
READ MORE: Whitehaven teen raises awareness after brain tumour diagnosis
Since losing Chris, Vicky has set up a fundraising group under the umbrella of Brain Tumour Research.
In Chris’ Memory, as it is known, has raised an incredible sum of more than £41,000 to help find a cure for brain tumours through a range of challenges, raffles and fundraising campaigns, with incredible support from family and friends.
Vicky Todd and partner Graeme McDermott touring the labs at Imperial (Image: Supplied)
Mel Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Chris’ story reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age.
“We cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.
“Brain Tumour Research is determined to change outcomes for brain tumour patients and ultimately find a cure.”
