Dad dying of mind most cancers vows to defy odds after tragic prognosis

A father dying of mind most cancers is climbing Snowdon to defy the percentages and assist stop future generations from affected by the illness.

Andy Hampton, 54, was recognized with a lethal glioblastoma (GBM) mind tumour 14 months in the past. Regardless of the immense challenges, the father-of-four from Dorset will probably be scaling Yr Wyddfa, a 1,085 metre (3,560 ft) peak in Wales, on Saturday, July 6. Andy will probably be elevating cash and consciousness for Mind Tumour Analysis – and his four-year-old daughter Isabelle will probably be proper by his facet on the climb.

Andy, from Sturminster Newton, mentioned: “The very fact stays that this illness impacts kids greater than adults. I do know it is too late for me, however I am unable to depart a world the place kids are made to undergo like this. One thing must be achieved. This will probably be my first time tackling the mountain since my prognosis.

“It is going to be tougher than ever earlier than, however I am able to push myself to the restrict to combat this illness. I’ve all the time dreamed of getting a full English breakfast on the summit with the solar going up, so I simply have to return.” Andy, an skilled hiker and marathon runner, will probably be battling extra than simply the incline on the problem.

Because of the high-grade tumour being positioned on Andy’s optical nerve, his eyesight is now severely impaired, and invasive radiotherapy has broken his listening to. Although Gemma, Andy’s spouse, says ‘life has returned to his eyes’ following preliminary debulking surgical procedure and months of therapy.

Gemma mentioned: “It has been over a 12 months since Andy was recognized, and we’re one of many fortunate ones. He was initially given a prognosis of 12 to 18 months, however Andy is a fighter, and he’s feeling extra like his outdated self after coming off chemotherapy. The factor with Andy is he in all probability would not have the power for this problem, however he all the time finds a manner.”

The summit climb would be the third time the household have supported Mind Tumour Analysis since Andy was recognized – after they had been left surprised by the “barbaric” therapy that mind most cancers sufferers are pressured to endure.

Gemma mentioned: “We did not know something about mind tumours earlier than the prognosis. Till it impacts you, you simply do not realise how underfunded analysis is, and the way brutal the remedies are. I bear in mind watching Andy as he was strapped to his hospital mattress and had his mind zapped with radiotherapy. It is surprising.

“After we first took Andy to hospital, there was not a single leaflet to be discovered on mind tumours. We’re so conditioned to look out for breast most cancers, lung most cancers, and so forth, however are by no means made conscious of the indicators of mind most cancers. We had a mind tumour staring us within the face the entire time and we did not choose up on it.”

Louise Aubrey, group improvement supervisor at Mind Tumour Analysis, has referred to as Andy an inspiration. She mentioned: “Andy’s dedication and spirit within the face of this devastating illness is an inspiration to us all. Analysis we’re funding throughout our Centres of Excellence will assist lead in the direction of bettering remedies and discovering a remedy for GBM.”

Mind Tumour Analysis funds sustainable analysis at devoted centres within the UK. It additionally campaigns for the Authorities and bigger most cancers charities to speculate extra in analysis into mind tumours as a way to pace up new remedies for sufferers and, finally, to discover a remedy.

The charity is the driving drive behind the decision for a nationwide annual spend of £35 million as a way to enhance survival charges and affected person outcomes in step with different cancers akin to breast most cancers and leukaemia. You may assist Andy’s fundraiser by making a donation right here.