Heartbroken family tours labs at Queen Mary University of London after donating thousands in memory of loved one

By Sophie Lewis
Published 9th Jun 2023, 11:49 BST
Updated 9th Jun 2023, 12:35 BST
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A devastated family who lost a ‘truly amazing’ father and husband to an aggressive brain tumour visited university laboratories after donating over £5,000 to Brain Tumour Research.

In July 2019, Graham Green was at work when he suffered what was initially thought to have been a stroke.

His speech went and he was unable to move but having ruled out a stroke, further tests had to be conducted and within a few weeks Graham was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM).

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A glioblastoma is one of the most common types of aggressive brain tumours in adults.

Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Sharon, Andrew, Melanie, Vivien and Michelle at the Wall of Hope.Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Sharon, Andrew, Melanie, Vivien and Michelle at the Wall of Hope.
Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Sharon, Andrew, Melanie, Vivien and Michelle at the Wall of Hope.

Despite surgery and subsequent treatment, Graham’s brain tumour grew back very aggressively, and by August 2020, it became clear that he was not responding to treatment – so it was stopped.

The dad of three died in November that year and his family have been heartbroken ever since.

Sharon Hayward, Graham’s eldest child, said: ‘We were all called in as a family and told that Dad wouldn’t still be here at Christmas without treatment. Dad was offered an awake craniotomy, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy and decided to go ahead to have more time with the family and especially Mum – they had been together since they were both 14.’

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The family wanted to use their experience to try and help others and a team of 13 relatives and friends of Graham Green tackled the epic 10-mile route of the Great South Run in 2021 to raise funds for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Graham GreenFamily members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Graham Green
Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Graham Green

SEE ALSO: Family of Portsmouth dad who died of brain tumour finish the Great South Run in his memory

Along with Graham’s three children, the squad included a nephew, a great-niece, four of his grandchildren and four employees from Portsmouth Demolition and Salvage Ltd, the company Graham set up at the age of 17.

Their extraordinary efforts attracted more than £5,600 in donations and they have now raised enough to sponsor the equivalent of three days of research.

The family was among a group of supporters who were given the chance to tour the labs at Queen Mary University of London, led by principal investigator Professor Silvia Marino.

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Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money by running the Great South Run to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Great South Run team with their medalsFamily members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money by running the Great South Run to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Great South Run team with their medals
Family members of Graham Green, who died from an aggressive brain tumour, raised enough money by running the Great South Run to fund three days worth of research into finding a cure for the disease. Pictured: Great South Run team with their medals

They placed three tiles on the Wall of Hope, representative of the £2,740 it costs to fund each day of research. Two of the tiles were dedicated to Graham and the third to Gillian Britton, the mother of Portsmouth Demolition employee Michael Brennan, who also died from a brain tumour.

Vivien said: ‘I hope the money raised is life-changing and will help make a difference for everyone going forward who has a brain tumour.

‘It was emotional placing Graham’s tiles on the Wall of Hope and heartening to hear from the scientists about the work being done in their quest to find a cure.’

Sharon added: ‘We all had so much help and support from Dad. He was a truly amazing man and would have loved that so many of us took on the Great South Run in his memory to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.

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‘Treatments for brain tumour patients have barely changed in decades and research into finding better outcomes and ultimately a cure is so grossly underfunded. It’s good to be making a difference for the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s.’