Scots TV star with brain tumour takes on squat challenge to fund research
A Scots TV star living with an aggressive brain tumour is is doing 88 squats a day while undergoing chemotherapy in a fitness challenge to help fund research into brain tumours.
Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell, from East Lothian, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in June 2022, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with a life expectancy of just 12 to 18 months.
Despite the devastating diagnosis, the 38-year-old is now halfway through the '88 Squats a Day in July' challenge, all while receiving active treatment.
The fundraising effort is in aid of Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for the disease.
Theo originally set a fundraising goal of just £500, but has already raised more than £7,500, with two weeks of the challenge still to go.
Burrell, who is a patron of the charity, said: 'I've been doing my squats and I'm actually enjoying it. I may do around 20 and then take a break and have a cup of tea, but I get them done.
'My son Jonah has been asking me what I'm doing so he's been joining in, doing two or three here and there and then he's done.
'I think I'll keep it up after the challenge has ended because it's supposed to be one of the best exercises you can do, particularly for the back.'
This week marks Glioblastoma Awareness Week, which aims to shine a light on the disease and how it is the most commonly diagnosed high-grade brain tumour in adults.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Glioblastoma is incurable and there has been no advance in treatments for two decades.
Around 3,200 people are diagnosed with it a year in the UK, of which around 160 will live for five years or more.
Burrell, whose son is four, said: 'I'm nearly 40 and I've seen just how devastating this has been for my parents. They never stop worrying about it, ever.
'This disease is stealing young people away from their families. I've seen lots of people lose their life to glioblastoma who are parents of young children, it's just so devastating for everyone involved.
'The idea that you will never see your children grow up. There are lots of things I've come to terms with on this journey, but I will never ever be okay with the fact that I'm going to miss out on a lot of Jonah's life.
'That will always make me feel completely grief stricken and I imagine it's the same for any other parent who finds themselves in this situation. No time will ever be long enough really.'
Since her diagnosis, Burrell has undergone life-extending surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
A scan in December 2024 showed some regrowth of the tumour but her latest scan in June showed there were no active cancer cells left.
'It means that some of those cells have been killed off, while others have been put to sleep and are dormant,' she said.
'But as we know with glioblastoma, they always wake up at some point and the tumour will start to grow again – but it's as good a situation as I could have hoped for given the nature of the disease.'
Burrell played a pivotal role in the launch of the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence in January.
The centre, a unique partnership between Brain Tumour Research and Beatson Cancer Charity, is the first of its kind in Scotland and focuses specifically on glioblastoma.
She said: 'People need to know how damaging glioblastoma is and how desperate people like I am to increase the treatment options.
'What Brain Tumour Research and Beatson are doing at the Scottish centre is giving so many people in the community hope, and I think they will produce something really spectacular.
'But all of these things take time. How many lives are we going to lose before then?'
Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: 'During Glioblastoma Awareness Week, we are shining a spotlight on this most devastating of brain tumours.
'We are incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate patron in Theo, who works tirelessly for the brain tumour community.
'The statistics around glioblastoma are shocking, and it is only through increased government funding into critical research that we will get closer to a cure.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Daily Record
Bayern Munich star Sven Ulreich's six-year-old son dies after 'serious illness'
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has confirmed that his son, Len, has passed away after battling a "serious illness" with the 36-year-old issuing a statement. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has tragically confirmed that his six year old son Len has passed away following a battle with "serious illness". The 36-year-old revealed that making the heartbreaking news public has been an incredibly tough decision for him and his family, who are now requesting privacy during this devastating time. "It is with deep sadness that we would like to announce today that our son Len passed away a few weeks ago after a long, serious illness," Ulreich said in a statement. "The decision to make this public now is incredibly difficult for us – however, it is an important step for us as a family to create clarity in our environment and also in the public eye. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Together with our daughter, we are now trying to find our way back to life step by step. Special thanks go to our families, friends, and FC Bayern Munich for their discretion and great support over the past few months – that means a lot to us." "We ask the public and media representatives to be considerate and respect our privacy. We kindly ask you to refrain from further inquiries or statements. Lisa and Sven." Little Len was born in 2018, while Ulreich was enjoying his first stint at Bayern Munich, reports the Mirror. The shot-stopper departed for Hamburg in 2020 before making his return to Bavaria just one year later. Countless supporters from Bayern and rival clubs alike have sent touching messages of support after the devastating announcement became public. "May he rest in peace... stay strong, Sven and family," one supporter wrote. "I feared that something like this was the reason for his absence," another person expressed. "Horrible. Praying for peace, strength, and comfort. What is more devastating as a parent than losing your child.. "You could see in his few public appearances in the last months that he was going through something terrible," a third individual penned. "Now the heartbreaking certainty. The worst thing that can happen to any parent. Sending lots of strength to Ulle and his family. Rest in peace, Len". Ulreich, a former Germany Under-21 international, has clocked up over 100 appearances for Bayern during his two stints with the club. He only played twice last season, once in the Bundesliga and once in the Champions League, as Vincent Kompany's team clinched the league title. The seasoned goalkeeper was seen at an open training session on Wednesday as Kompany's squad gear up for their new season. They are set to face Stuttgart in the DFL-Supercup on August 16, while their first league match is at home against RB Leipzig six days later.
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Father-of-two 'smelled like bleach' before 'dark shadow' was found on his brain
Sam Suriakumar was in his bathroom when the smell of a cleaning agent 'almost filled up (his) mouth' A father-of-two who received a diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumour after noticing the smell of bleach has urged others in similar situations to 'hold on to hope and positivity in whatever way you can'. Sam Suriakumar, 40, was in his bathroom one day in February 2020 when the unusual scent of a cleaning product 'almost filled up (his) mouth', leaving him feeling lightheaded. Initially assuming his wife Sindhu had recently been cleaning, Sam dismissed the symptom as likely nothing. But when the keen fitness enthusiast attended his gym session the next day, the peculiar odour and wooziness returned. During his homeward journey, Sam, a Worcester Park resident, suffered a 'massive grand mal seizure' whilst travelling on the London Underground. Emergency services transported him to the hospital for examination, where medics identified a 'large shadow' on the left side of his brain. He was later diagnosed with a brain tumour on February 4, 2020. "The smell of ammonia, bleach or some sort of cleaning agent was almost filling up my mouth, it was really strong," he said. "I felt like I needed to lean against the wall and use the radiator to stand, I felt very strange." Looking back on his seizure, Sam then added: "I closed my eyes and it felt like half an hour went by, but we had only moved one stop...I'd seized up so bad that I dislocated my shoulder." Whilst the mass remained stable for around two years, Sam received the heartbreaking news in 2023 that it had grown towards the front of his brain. The tumour's location in areas crucial for speech, memory, and movement renders surgical intervention nearly impossible. So, Sam instead underwent 30 sessions of radiotherapy and nine months of chemotherapy to try to halt its growth. His tumour is now in a monitoring phase, and Sam will have scans every six months to better understand the impacts of the treatment. On July 26, Sam celebrated his 40th birthday, a milestone he didn't think he would reach. He has tried to turn his situation into 'something positive', aiming to encourage and inspire others. "I'm trying to use my experience to inspire people and turn this into something positive, rather than letting it define me as this poor guy with a sad story," Sam told PA Real Life. "I want to provide encouragement and inspiration to others, in that we can fight and we don't have to let it define us. "Hold on to hope and positivity in whatever way you can." In 2023, Sam participated in the London Marathon to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research, and through various initiatives, he has raised approximately £60,000 for charity thus far. To further spread awareness, he took on the role of a supporter ambassador for Brain Tumour Research in 2023, which led him to engage in public speaking and recount his personal experiences. For others in his situation, Sam said he would send them a 'massive hug'. "Your brain talks to every single part of your body and it's so important to have a positive mindset," he said. "It's not going to come every single day, but try to find those things that inspire and encourage you to help you move forward."
Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Daily Record
Dad's holiday to Greece turns to nightmare as desperate family make plea
Alan Kirby had flown to the holiday hotspot with his family on Thursday, July 3, but soon became unwell and was shocked to learn he may have cancer. A British dad is stuck in Greece with pneumonia and suspected cancer after a dream holiday turned into a nightmare earlier this month. Alan Kirby, 67, had flown to the holiday hotspot with his family on Thursday, July 3, but soon became unwell and was shocked to learn he may have cancer. Alan, from Somerset, checked into a clinic on Sunday, July 6 and was told he needed antibiotics for a chest infection. However, as reported by Somerset Live, after being transferred to a hospital his step-daughter says he was bluntly told "antibiotics won't cure cancer". Liza Whitmore says he needs to be home in the UK for a biopsy, where doctors will be able to confirm a cancer diagnosis and give more details plus a prognosis. However, while Alan's insurance covered a flight from Zante Hospital to a general hospital in Athens, it does not cover a flight to the UK. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He is now being treated for pneumonia, but needs to be home for cancer treatment, according to his family. Liza, who was forced to go home to the UK without him, said: "Time is not on our side. If it is cancer, we need to get him home for treatment." Liza has approached the British Embassy for help, but they were not able to finance Alan's return to the UK. They advised her to set up a fundraiser to cover costs for his treatment in Greece and for a flight home. At time of writing, the fundraiser has raised £1,703. However, Liza owes €14,194.74 to Athens Hospital where he is still being treated with half of it due today and the other half due in August - and more still is needed for a flight home. Liza has warned others about planning carefully before going on holiday. She says they did not declare a benign tumour that Alan was diagnosed with the year previously as he felt well and they did not believe it was relevant - but now it appears this declaration failure has made their insurance void. She also urged people going abroad to remember to bring a valid EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), to declare everything on their travel insurance application and to request a 'fit to fly' certificate if necessary.
