HUSBAND’S BATTLE WITH BRAIN CANCER INSPIRED FUNDRAISING TO FIND CURE

The widow of a man lost to a brain tumour, who inspired tens of thousands of pounds to be raised for Brain Tumour Research during his cancer battle, has met with scientists working to find a cure for the devastating disease. Isle of Wight resident Tania Herman was invited to the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London, where scientists are working at the forefront of the fight against aggressive glioblastoma (GBM). It’s the type of tumour which took the life of her husband Stuart in November 2021. Poignantly, the date of the visit, 7th November, should have been Stuart’s 60th birthday. Tania first met her husband-to-be when they were both 12 years old and at school in Leatherhead, Surrey but she left school at the age of 16 to study and work abroad. She didn’t return to the UK until she was in her 30s after which Tania and Stuart got together. They married when they were both 38 and their 2 adored sons, Tommy and George, were born soon after. That diagnosis with a deadly GBM in February 2021 came about during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns. A futures trader for Barclays Capital, Stuart worked very long hours and Tania started to notice him becoming increasingly less verbal. Shortly afterwards, Stuart had a seizure which led to his diagnosis with a tumour that typically has a survival prognosis of 12 to 18 months. Tania said:

“The consultant was very blunt. He told us he could try surgery but it would change Stuart’s personality and he didn’t recommend it. Stu had radiotherapy which involved getting the ferry to Southampton every day for 30 days, followed by chemotherapy. He was quite optimistic through his treatment but felt flat afterwards. The medics started talking about palliative care then, which was quite shocking. “We consulted some private specialists in London who were able to prescribe a cocktail of repurposed drugs, but they couldn’t guarantee they would help.”

Meanwhile, existing and former colleagues at Barclays organised to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research, principally through an Isle of Wight Challenge. In June 2021, 8 teams of Barclays colleagues cycled, ran or walked loops round the Isle of Wight or virtually in support of Stu to raise funds. Other friends ran the London Marathon, the London Landmarks Half and the Estepona 10K that same year. Tania said:

“I am so grateful to everybody who took part in the fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, inspired by Stu. So many people have told me how Stu touched their lives, giving them advice, listening to them or just being kind. I still get messages from colleagues all around the world telling me how Stu guided them or how they wouldn’t be where they are today without his input.”

Tania, Tommy and George, Stu’s eldest and youngest brothers Bob and Paul Herman, along with their wives Anne and Sarah, and Bob’s son Chris were invited to Queen Mary University of London, led by principal investigator Professor Silvia Marino. They spoke to scientists about their work to find a cure for the disease and then placed 25 tiles on the Wall of Hope in Stuart’s memory, representative of the £2,740 it costs to fund each day of research. Melanie Tiley, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said:

“We’re really grateful to Barclays, the Hermans and their friends for their support and fundraising and hope that the visit to our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London offered a useful insight into all we’re doing to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure. “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and more men under the age of 70 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002. This has to change.”