Woman swims to help find cure for brain tumours

A Devon woman is taking on a month-long swim challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of her husband.

Susan Shrubsole, 65, from Torrington is swimming 5k throughout August. It’s after her late-husband David Shrubsole died 12 months after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM), he was 56.

The craft shop owner said: “I’ve always wanted to do something in his honour. I signed up to swim 5k, but I think I’ll end up doubling that, with memories of David‘s journey to keep me going.”

David, a brass worker, and kit-car specialist was diagnosed in May 2006 after family members noticed a change in his personality. A scan at North Devon District Hospital revealed a mass on his brain and a month later, he had debulking surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Susan said: “Every year as a family we attended a kit-car show which David would always organise our stand for, however this particular year he was very despondent about it and our son took over. This continued until the day of the show and my friend suggested he may have suffered a mini stroke. David had also lost his love of food and seemed vacant – as if his soul had left his body – we knew something was wrong.”

Despite six weeks of radiotherapy, David’s condition quickly deteriorated, and he had a heart-attack and died shortly before he was due his third session of gruelling chemotherapy.

“The treatment knocked David out and he very was poorly after each session. In the end he didn’t have enough fight in him, and his body gave up.

“We made his last 12 months special with lots of time together as a family, including hosting a party to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It’s something we’ve continued and on the date of what would be David’s birthday we have a party to keep his spirit alive, nicknaming it Dave’s day,” Susan added.

Brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours.

Mel Tiley, community, and development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re grateful to Susan for sharing David’s story. It’s a stark reminder that more research is needed to provide better options for treatment into the disease. Susan’s incredible fundraising efforts is a step in the direction to helping us find a cure for others who may be living with his devastating disease.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Susan’s swimming challenge, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1239751393433329/