The family of a Shoreham sports coach with a brain tumour is calling for more research funding as he faces a second operation. Bob Carroll-Hallett, 31, was scheduled for surgery in Brighton on Friday, 13 November, after being diagnosed at 28 and given an estimated eight to 10 years to live.
Carroll-Hallett, who works as an activity instructor at Butlin's, was diagnosed with an astrocytoma after suffering a seizure, BBC News reported. His family has been fundraising for the charity Brain Tumour Research while urging greater government support. Originally reported by BBC News.
Determined to return to coaching
Carroll-Hallett has worked at Butlin's for several years and hopes to resume coaching children in sport as soon as possible. Speaking hours before the planned operation, he said he did not want his illness to determine how people saw him.
"You've just got to enjoy every day, because this doesn't define me, it isn't who I am," Bob Carroll-Hallett said. Support has come from across Sussex, including a good-luck video from DJ Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook.
Family fundraising and government response
His mother, Wendy Carroll-Hallett, said someone at Brain Tumour Research had told her that 74% of the charity's money came from people fundraising as her family had. She said the remainder came from government and argued that this was insufficient.
In September, Wendy, her husband Martin and Bob completed a 15-mile (24-km) charity walk from Brighton Marina to Goring in Worthing. Wendy also plans to take part in the charity's 99 Miles in November challenge.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it was investing more than £25m in the Brain Tumour Research Consortium to improve outcomes for children and adults. It acknowledged that brain cancer had received too little attention.
The department said its response included commissioning a rapid expert review, developing a national action plan and recruiting a national clinical lead. It is also working with Cancer Research UK to jointly fund Brain Tumour Centres of Excellence.
Originally reported by BBC News.