Reading · Brain Cancer Justice

Dear Supporters,

What a busy and positive start to 2026!

Following on from our last newsletter, covering Parliament events on the 6th and 7th January, there is much more to share, and we do not plan to slow down anytime soon! With your help, Brain Cancer Justice (BCJ) is gaining momentum, and we continue to be your voice, ensuring it’s heard! In the year ahead, with your vital support, we’ll keep raising awareness on behalf of Brain Cancer Patients until aspirations turn into policy and reality.

Thank you to everyone who supported Less Survivable Cancers Week by sharing stories, reposting, and standing alongside those affected. The week was organised by the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT), representing six common but devastating cancers: brain, lung, liver, oesophagus, pancreas and stomach.

LSCT is calling for the government to recognise the scale of this challenge, reconsider current funding models, remove barriers (such as limited access to and lack of awareness of clinical trials) and continue to advocate for four key policy priorities. To learn more about the jaw dropping stats and their approach, head here Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week - Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce

Alongside activity in England, thank you to MSP Jackie Baillie for sponsoring the event in the Scottish Parliament and Delyth Jewell MS / AS in Senedd.

SENEDD CARDIFF: 14th JANUARY

BCJ attended the Less Survivable Cancer event at the Senedd in Cardiff and had fruitful conversations with scientists Ben Newland and Dr Mathew Clement, met Senedd MSs, and caught up with Brain Tumour Research and The Brain Tumour Charity. There were a few banshees there too (see IG page!).

For brain cancer patients there are even greater challenges in Wales / Cymru including limited trials, delayed diagnosis and lack of survival data. This is not geography. It is inequity.

Where you live should never decide diagnosis, tissue storage, trial access, or whether you’re told “there’s nothing more”.

Get in touch if you live in Cymru / Wales and want to join our WhatsApp team.

THE RARE CANCER BILL IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS - 16th January

Which leads nicely into what was happening in Westminster.. it was another busy and optimistic week with parliamentarians advocating on behalf of Brain Cancer patients.

Prior to the second reading of Dr Scott Arthur MP’s Rare Cancers Bill in the House of Lords, BCJ Nicola Nuttall, joined BBC Breakfast to shine a light on brain cancer.

Nicola spoke passionately about the challenges her daughter Laura faced, and the brave and inspiring approach Laura took, living for 4.5 years past diagnosis.

Nicola raised the importance of the bill, the need for greater awareness and for treatments to be introduced after decades of no change. Nicola and her family continue to campaign for more attention, trials and treatment for glioma.

The Rare Cancers Bill reached a significant milestone supported in the House of Lords by Baroness Elliot of Whitburn Bay following successfully passing its third reading in the commons.

Numerous Peers highlighted the injustice and the urgent need for more research and funding into brain cancer. We are truly heartened and encouraged by the attention that Brain Cancer Patients and BCJ received in the Lords and the emphasis on the urgent need for progress for brain cancer patients.

We are especially thankful to Lord Bourne, Lord Patel, Lord Polak, and Lord Randall for their mention and recognition of ‘Brain Cancer Justice’. It shows that patients and their families are finally being heard, thanks to your support and voices.

We are also thankful and welcome responses from Government Minister Baroness Merron, as well as the thoughtful and supportive comments from Shadow Health Minister Lord Kamall.

With the Bill passing its second House of Lords reading, we are getting closer to it becoming law. However, being heard isn’t enough! We won’t sit back and be silent. BCJ demands swift action and implementation, not just words of hope. We won’t accept anything less!

The government talks in years, whilst brain cancer devastates in weeks.

Rare Cancers Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament: https://share.google/86R7YmhoN8jtTcVME

THE HEALTH ADVISORS’ CICERO EVENT: 20^th JANUARY

BCJ Tom Riley and Georgie Maynard attended the Health Advisors’ Cicero event to listen, learn and ask questions! It was an interesting, encouraging and insightful event.

For us collaboration is essential in the Brain Tumour space, so it was great to catch up with Cameron Miller from The Brain Tumour Charity (who was on the panel) and Hugh Adams from Brain Tumour Research, plus other members of their team. We share the same aim - more investment, research and funding for Brain Cancer.

BCJ values the relationship with charities, researchers, scientists and advocates. Working closely is crucial to ensure that patients voices are heard, understood and play a role in the next steps forward.

BRAIN CANCER HAS A HEARTBREAKING IMPACT ON SPORT

This week we’ve been thinking about the devastating stories of sports individuals who died before they reached their pinnacle. The stories are a stark reminder that brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of children and under 40-year-olds.

We are asking the sports community, fans, players, clubs, parents, grassroots teams, Sunday leagues, EVERYONE - to stand together and back the BCJ’s petition.

Reach out to your local team, sports community, encourage them to get involved, share our petition amongst their group, to ensure we have a greater impact on Government.

Let’s make more noise. Let’s push for change. Let’s demand better. Just ONE Premier. League team could make a HUGE difference by getting their supporters to sign this petition. Please…

sign the petition before the end of February.
share the link to your friends and family.
reach out to your club and ask them to share on match day!

Let’s ensure Brain Cancer voices are heard.

FINALLY A BCJ EVENT WITH DONATIONS TO SHAY’S SMILES

Katie, a dear friend of Georgie Maynard, organised a fundraising event for Shay’s Smiles, in loving memory of Shay, a beautiful and warm-hearted boy who died from glioblastoma aged just 13.

Georgie spoke about the impact on brain cancer patients and families and emphasised why Brain Cancer Justice was formed - because silence, delay and inaction are costing lives.

BCJ’s aim is to raise awareness and we were very grateful that, Kate Silverton, BBC journalist, who attended the event, shared our story on her social media platforms. To find out more here:

UPCOMING DATES

3 February: Parliamentary drop-in on brain cancer & tissue freezing from 14:00 to 16:00 hours in Portcullis house. Ask your MPs to attend the event and contact Ellie James of Owain’s Law contact@owains-law.org for more details.

4 February: World Cancer Day & National Cancer Plan announcement!

10 February: APPG Brain Tumours, Westminster

Lastly, you can help us as we seek to extend awareness of brain cancer and change the current dire impact on patients and families. Please continue reaching out to your family, friends, local community, your MP and Peers, your sports team, celebrities! Encourage them to get involved, sign the petition, raise awareness. Together, we can change the narrative so that a brain cancer diagnosis shifts from terminal to treatable!

Best wishes

Brain Cancer Justice

January, a very busy month!

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