Almost 10 years after first being diagnosed with a brain tumour – and going on to establish a charity to help other Isle of Wight families in a similar position – Mark Grimes’ health has taken a turn, but he is determined to keep fighting.
2024 ended on a devastating note for the local firefighter as Mark’s oncologist confirmed that his tumour had started to grow again. This was picked up during a routine MRI scan carried out just before Christmas.
It was in February 2015 that Mark and his family spent his birthday in hospital waiting for a CT scan after 6 months of what can only be described as ‘funny turns’. It was soon uncovered that he had a low-grade Oligodendroglioma, one of the rarer tumours, approximately 5x5cm in size and that had probably been growing for many years.
In the weeks that followed, a 4-hour craniotomy was performed whilst Mark was awake. By May of that year, the then 34-year-old had begun his fundraising journey for The Firefighters Charity and The Brain Tumour Charity. These efforts to support others later led to The Wight Brainy Bunch being established by Mark and his wife, Kathryn – and we’ve been following their journey ever since.
The only treatment option now open to Mark is further chemotherapy, having already undergone 2 surgeries, 33 sessions of radiotherapy and 8 months of chemo over the past decade.
Treatment is due to get underway in the next week or so, with Mark facing up to 12 months of chemotherapy. The Grimes family are aware this isn’t a cure, but it is hoped the extended treatment will stop the tumour from growing.
Speaking about the news, Kathryn Grimes has said:
“This highlights once again how awful this disease is and how important our little charity is to so many families going through the same
Article continues below this advertisement “It is extremely important to us that the charity is unaffected and continues as normal, and we are incredibly lucky that we have so many people who support us and will help us ensure this happens. We hope the few events we have already pencilled in the diary can go ahead as planned… But at this stage, we don’t honestly know what will be possible.
“Thank you as always for your support”.
What a brave and inspirational man Mark is. Certainly brave, as he does not sit back and keep moaning, “Poor me”, also thinking of others. Okay, he will not fully recover, but I and many others will be hoping for many decent years will be given back to him and his family. They must be so proud of him. I have never met you Mark, but as an ex Firefighter, I sincerely wish you all the very best. Just one more thing, I hope that all the islands firefighters get behind you to help you fulfil your dreams and make them a reality.