Sadiq Khan MP recently met 4 year old Maisie Dury from Earlsfield in the House of Commons to launch a new national brain tumour campaign.

Brain Tumour Research is a group of 14 brain tumour charities campaigning to raise awareness and increase funding for vital research. 

Maisie was diagnosed with a brain tumour at St George’s hospital 20 months ago.  The tumour was successfully removed by surgery and Maisie continues to be closely monitored at St George’s with regular scans.

Sadiq Khan MP said “Maisie is a brave girl. She received excellent care from her local GP and from staff at St George’s Hospital and is making a good recovery. St Georges is one of the best hospitals in the country for treating brain tumours.”

“I know a lot about brain tumours as, unfortunately, a very close member of my family died from this at a young age.”

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of UK children. More people under 40 die of a brain tumour than any other cancer.”

“This is an outstanding campaign to raise awareness about brain tumours. We’ve seen survival rates improving for other forms of cancer and ‘Brain Tumour Research’ is doing exceptional work to ensure that the research is done to improve survival rates for people with brain tumours.”

“I have written to the Minister of Health to ask her to meet with Maisie, her parents and me to discuss how we can get more research done in this area.”

Vanessa Dury, Maisie’s mother who is now working for Brain Tumour Research said
“Hearing the words ‘your child has a brain tumour’ is a nightmare.  There are so many questions, and too few answers.  We were fortunate as our doctor referred Maisie immediately, we got an MRI scan quickly and had an amazing surgeon.  We found Maisie’s tumour before it was too late. I was shocked to discover that brain tumour research is so woefully under-funded, so I wanted to help.  Increased funds for research has made such a difference for leukaemia and other cancers where survival rates and are now much higher and there is greater awareness. We want to do the same for people with brain tumours.”

• ‘Brain Tumour Research’, http://www.braintumourresearch.org/, is a new initiative by a group of UK brain tumour charities to raise the profile and funding for brain tumour patients and improve their chances.  Charities who have united together to create Brain Tumour Research include: Ali’s Dream, Andrea’s Gift, Anna’s Hope, Brain and Spine Foundation, Brain Tumour Action, Brain Tumour Research Campaign, Brainstrust, Brainwaves, Charlie’s Challenge, Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, Ellie Savage Memorial Trust, Hammer Out, Levi’s Star and The Diana Ford Trust.
  
  
• For more information about Brain Tumour Research please contact Vanessa Dury, Communications Advisor on: 07879 648 957
  
  
• ‘Brain Tumour Research’ is backed by brain tumour patients Martin Kemp and Russell Watson and Shelia Hancock, whose grandson Jack survived a brain tumour.  Golfing legends Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin and John O’Leary are also backing the campaign.   Other celebrity supporters include Tim Henman, Sarah Beeny and Nicholas Owen.