On Saturday evening (1st March) at 7.30pm, to mark the start of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, the brain tumour community sent a wave of light around the world as part of our #ShineALight campaign.
As supporters lit candles in unison with the hashtag #ShineALight, alongside photos of loved ones lost to this devastating disease, it served as a poignant moment of strength and solidarity in our common fight to find a cure.
Well-known names who shared our message with their thousands of followers included presenter Davina McCall, who late last year underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour. She was joined by broadcaster Piers Morgan, who posted an impassioned video in tribute to his friend Miles Caldwell, who lost his life to a glioblastoma.
Bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, who is living with a glioblastoma, posted to raise awareness and stand in support of all those for whom the desperate search for a cure is all too urgent. It was a sentiment that was shared by Antiques Roadshow expert and Brain Tumour Research Patron Theo Burrell, following the heartbreaking discovery of regrowth of her glioblastoma tumour in October 2024. Doctor-turned-writer Adam Kay posted in support, lighting his candle for his "lovely friend Theo who’s living with the disease, and all those who have lost their lives to a brain tumour".
McFly posted in love and remembrance of their good friend and fellow musician Tom Parker, singer of The Wanted, who lost his life to a brain tumour aged just 33 – a tribute echoed by Tom’s wife Kelsey. Other musicians who used their huge fanbase to help raise awareness included Suzi Quatro, Sharleen Spiteri, Louise Redknapp and KT Tunstall, who also took the opportunity to congratulate us on our newly opened Scottish Research Centre of Excellence in her post.
Also wielding their influence amongst their vast fan following were Altered Images singer Clare Grogan, who lost her good friend Annabel Giles to a glioblastoma, Go West singer Peter Cox, Garry Christian of The Christians and Tom Gladwin of the band Shed Seven. Meanwhile, Patron and pop-music powerhouse Pete Waterman posted a plea for support after enduring the excruciating loss of his son Paul to a brain tumour, at the age of 33. Singer-songwriter Rick Astley joined in lighting a candle in his own heartfelt tribute to Paul, whom he had worked closely with in the early part of his career.
Qian Zephaniah, the wife of poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, followed in her husband’s footsteps using the power of words to beautifully articulate the desperate need for greater awareness of this devastating disease. Of Benjamin and our #ShineALight campaign, she wrote: ‘Let it ignite the desperate urgency he deserved in life: more research, more funding, more time for those still fighting.’ Award-winning singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading CBE also posted in memory of her beloved friend Benjamin.
A host of sports stars helped to open up the playing field for better outcomes for brain tumour patients, with Olympic medallist Sam Reardon shining a light in memory of his mum, Marilyn, who died of a glioblastoma aged 52. Cricketer Kirstie Gordon and footballer Michael Mols also put on a show of support. Meanwhile, with the backing of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham AFC posted in memory of young mascot Aaron Wharton, who passed away at the age of just seven with an anaplastic ependymoma.
Stars of the screen also helped to illuminate social media with our plea for greater awareness, with Coronation Street actors Charlie Dale and Simon Gregson helping to shine a light on the plight of those affected. They were joined by former Big Brother contestant Charlie Doherty and BBC Scotland broadcaster Glenn Campbell – both of whom are living under the shadow of a brain tumour diagnosis – alongside presenter and property expert Sarah Beeny, who lost her mum to the disease, and actress and model Cressida Bonas.
As always, our Patrons and Ambassadors helped to amplify our campaign, with Patron Alfie Boe OBE lighting a candle in memory of his father, Alfred, who he lost to a brain tumour. His friend Michael Ball also posted as an act of tribute to Alfred and in recognition of the pain families like Alfie’s suffer. Garden designer and Patron Danny Clarke took part in honour of his sister, Margot, lost to a glioblastoma, while Ambassadors Craig Russell, Abi Feltham and Sam Suriakumar all lit a candle to stand united with those currently living through the fear and frustration of a brain tumour diagnosis, having endured the experience themselves.
The outpouring of support from celebrities was shored up and echoed by hundreds of members of our Brain Tumour Research family, who helped set social media aglow with posts and re-posts; we are incredibly grateful to each and every person who helped #ShineALight on this devastating disease.
Our thanks also go to Buckinghamshire businesswoman Carly Parkins of Carly’s Candles, who created a bespoke candle to support our campaign, inviting people to donate £2, £5 or £10 alongside the sale price, selflessly offering to make her own small donation for those who were unable to.
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