Words by Smiley Team
Only five per cent of people survive five years or more after glioblastoma, the most severe form of brain cancer. Defying these odds, Suzanne Davies has lived seven years since her diagnosis and has been giving back by raising awareness of the cancer type.
In total Suzanne’s fundraising appeal has attracted over £84,194 in donations throughout Brain Tumour Awareness Month this March. These will help fund over 3,500 hours of research conducted by scientists globally on a mission to discover ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
“It was a really hard time and came from nowhere,” said Suzanne, looking back at the period following her diagnosis in 2014. “I suddenly found myself having vacant moments where I couldn’t hear, speak or even breathe. When the doctors told me I had a tumour the size of a golf ball in my brain and that I’d only have a year to live, I had my two children (aged four and seven at the time) and husband to think about.”
Seven years on, Suzanne is thankful for the research, treatments, surgery advances and drugs that have been made available to her thanks to charities like Worldwide Cancer Research. In the seven years following diagnosis, she has celebrated her 40th birthday, as well as her sister getting married and having children: all events she didn’t expect to witness.
“2020 turned our lives upside down, and I think we’ve all breathed a sigh of relief that the year is over, but thanks to the generosity of Worldwide Cancer Research’s supporters, I’m feeling really positive about the year ahead. I am thrilled to hear that this campaign has raised over £80,000 towards life-changing cancer research. Any research that can help us get closer to cures, clinical trials and everything in-between are incredible. The fact it’s a charity close to home starting the research across the world makes it even more incredible.
“I want to be a Grandma and to be able to live my life like I should be able to. Thanks to charities like Worldwide Cancer Research, I might be able to.”
Created in 1979, the Edinburgh-based charity, Worldwide Cancer Research, has supported over £200 million worth of cancer research in over 30 countries. Today they are funding two brain tumour research projects. One is investigating treatment resistance in childhood brain cancers. The other exploring how particular genes permit brain cancer cells to grow.
Chief Executive at Worldwide Cancer Research, Dr Helen Rippon, said: “Brain cancer affects a huge number of people – not only in Scotland but right across the world. By funding more discovery research, we know that we can save more lives in the future.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to Suzanne for fronting this campaign and helping us raise over £80,000 towards cancer research, helping us continue to make our groundbreaking research possible. This money will help us fund over 3,500 hours of ground-breaking research. Together, with the help of Curestarters like Suzanne, we can end cancer.”
To support Worldwide Cancer Research by donating here.
