A TIRELSS charity fundraiser from Stourbridge is helping to raise awareness of brain tumours by taking part in a charity’s Christmas Advent Appeal.
Katie Smith, aged 38, was diagnosed with a low-grade oligoastrocytoma brain tumour in 2015, at the age of 30 just after returning from her honeymoon, and given the agonising news that she may not live to see her 40th birthday.
Just over two years later, when her son Eli was nine months old, Katie discovered her brain tumour had progressed to grade three and it was re-categorised as an oligodendroglioma – requiring further treatment.
Despite the battle with her health, Katie has inspired all around her with her positive attitude and dedicated efforts to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Through a fundraising group that she launched called Brainstorm, Katie – who lives in the Old Quarter with husband Luke and their six-year-old son Eli - has raised almost £67,000 for the charity.
Now she hopes to help give the organisation a festive boost by sharing her story as part of the charity’s online Advent calendar to remind people why research into brain tumours matters.
Less than 12 per cent of people diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years, compared with an average of 54 per cent across all cancers.
In her Christmas Advent Appeal video, which sits behind today’s door (Monday December 11) Katie said: “I am really lucky to be part of the 12 per cent who have survived five years beyond their original brain tumour diagnosis.
"Unfortunately, that means there are a huge amount of people who didn’t get those extra five years and didn’t get those extra five Christmases with their families.”
The calendar was launched with a message from Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell, a patron of the charity and a brain tumour patient.
It is hoped the poignant stories it contains will inspire visitors to donate to the charity, which funds research and campaigns for greater investment and faster access to new treatments, to help patients like Katie and Theo.
Katie, who was selected to take part in the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games last year in recognition of her fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, has supported many of the charity’s campaigns over the years, including Wear A Hat Day at the end of March - Brain Tumour Awareness Month.
She has also organised quiz nights, bucket collections, coffee mornings, car boot sales, cake sales and concerts, as well as participating in the Royal Sutton Fun Run in June this year with a team of 15 people, carrying an enormous, home-made pink top hat along the 8.5-mile route.
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, but just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease since records began in 2002.
Melanie Tiley, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, called on people to donate to the festive appeal “to give the gift of hope this Christmas”.
Donations can be made via the charity's website. To watch Katie's video click on the Advent Appeal link above.
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