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Family calls for more brain tumour research funding

Hannah Roein Shoreham
Bob Carroll-Hallett Bob, a young man in the middle, smiles at the camera, his father on his right and mother on his left. Behind them is a dark brick wall and the family are all wearing lanyards.Bob Carroll-Hallett
Bob's family say funding for brain tumour research "is not enough"

The family of a Butlin's activity instructor who has a brain tumour say more funds are needed for research into the condition.

Bob Carroll-Hallett, from Shoreham, was 28 when he had a seizure and it was discovered he had an astrocytoma.

Given an estimated eight to 10 years to live, he is due to have a second operation in Brighton on Friday.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says it is "investing over £25m in the Brain Tumour Research Consortium to transform outcomes for adults and children".

The 31-year-old, who has been working at Butlin's for several years, said he was determined that he "won't be the guy with the brain tumour".

He hopes to get back to his job as a sports coach for children as soon as he can.

Speaking just hours before his operation, he said: "You've just got to enjoy every day, because this doesn't define me, it isn't who I am."

He has received support from people across Sussex including DJ Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, who sent him a good luck video ahead of his latest surgery.

Bob Carroll-Hallett Bob, a young man, wears a cap and black leather jacket and smiles at the camera. He has his hands on his head and there are green plants behind him.Bob Carroll-Hallett
Bob recieved a special message from Fatboy Slim

His mum, Wendy Carroll-Hallett, said she had been told by someone at the charity Brain Tumour Research that 74% of the money it got was through "people like us raising money".

"The rest is the government and that's not enough," she said.

In September, Wendy, together with her husband Martin and Bob, did a 15-mile (24-km) walk from Brighton Marina to Goring in Worthing for the charity, and she will take on the charity's 99 Miles in November challenge.

Bob Carroll-Hallett, a man in his 30s, and his mum Wendy sit on a sofa and look at each other smiling. The sofa is grey and there is a fluffy cushion on it, and the walls behind them are painted a pale grey.
Bob says he does not "want to be known as the guy with the tumour"

A spokesperson for the DHSC said: "For too long brain cancer has not received the attention it deserves.

"The prime minister and the health secretary are working to change that: commissioning a rapid expert review of brain cancer; developing a new national action plan and recruiting a national clinical lead to drive change in this area."

They added the department was also working with Cancer Research UK to co-fund Brain Tumour Centres of Excellence.

"Together, we will help turn scientific breakthroughs into better outcomes for patients, and ensure everyone affected by brain cancer can benefit from the new research and new treatments that will save lives in the years to come," they said.

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