MSP vows to continue campaign for brain tumour cure after leaving Holyrood
Beatrice Wishart has been a supporter of the charity Brain Tumour Research since her daughter Louise Fraser, now 47, was diagnosed in 2012.
The Liberal Democrat MSP for the Shetland Islands will step down from frontline politics at the 2026 Holyrood election.
But the 69-year-old said that will not stop her from continuing to push for more research into brain tumours. PA Media Beatrice Wishart and other MSPs supporting Wear A Hat Day at Holyrood in aid of Brain Tumour Research (Brain Tumour Research/PA).
'Louise had suffered with debilitating migraines for many years, so we were used to the phone calls and knew the routine – help with the children, keep things quiet, and let her rest in a dark room,' Ms Wishart said.
'But on New Year's Day (2012) she became seriously unwell. When I went to check on her, she wasn't speaking properly and I honestly thought she'd had a stroke. It was terrifying.
'Due to staff shortages and as there wasn't an MRI scanner in Shetland at the time, it took a few days before she was flown to Aberdeen.
'That's when we were told it was a brain tumour. Your whole world falls apart when you hear those words, especially when it's your child.
'I remember being told it was low-grade and slow-growing, but the diagnosis still knocked the wind out of me.
'In that moment, everything changed.
'Once I had a better understanding of Louise's treatment, I wanted to know more about the prevalence of brain tumours and that led to wanting to do something to raise awareness for more research, ultimately leading to better support and early diagnoses for other families going through the same fear and uncertainty.' PA Media The Fraser family including Louise, right, completed the Edinburgh half-marathon in May in aid of Brain Tumour Research (Brain Tumour Research/PA).
Ms Fraser underwent surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and her tumour is now stable and monitored regularly.
Brain Tumour Research said tumours can impact people of any age, and kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer.
But just 1% of the national spend on cancer goes to brain tumour research, it said.
Ms Wishart has campaigned for more money to fund brain tumour research and ensure people can receive an earlier diagnosis.
The MSP helped set up Holyrood's Cross-Party Group on Brain Tumours and has supported the launch of the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, which Brain Tumour Research described as a 'game-changing' collaboration with the Beatson Cancer Charity.
Following the death of Ms Fraser's husband Kris from a brain haemorrhage in 2024, Ms Wishart continued to increase her support for the charity.
The Liberal Democrat has helped raise thousands of pounds through various events in memory of Mr Fraser and in ongoing support of her daughter. PA Media Beatrice Wishart, second right, with her daughters Louise Fraser, centre, and Clare Inkster, right, wearing hats in support of the charity (Brain Tumour Research/PA).
As she prepares to leave the Scottish Parliament next year, Ms Wishart pledged to continue to fight for those with brain tumours.
She said: 'Just because I'm stepping back from Parliament doesn't mean I'll stop fighting for this cause.
'Brain tumours have had a profound impact on my family, and I know we are not alone. I will keep speaking up, sharing our story, and doing whatever I can to push for change.
'I'm proud of what was started in the Scottish Parliament, and know the Cross-Party Group will continue to carry that work forward. Only together will we find a cure for this devastating disease.'
Thomas Brayford, policy and public affairs manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: 'Beatrice has been an outstanding advocate for the brain tumour community in Scotland.
'From raising policy issues in Parliament to supporting events in her local area, she has helped give a voice to so many families and inspired others to act.
'We are incredibly grateful for everything she has done and continues to do.'
To support Ms Wishart and her family's ongoing fundraising efforts, visit Just Giving.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Colin Jackson's hidden problem, 'horrendous body' issue and new life now at 58
Colin Jackson's hidden problem, 'horrendous body' issue and new life now at 58 Colin Jackson had an illustrious sporting career, but behind the scenes he was struggling with bulimia and body dysmorphia, as well as panic attacks in his last years of competition After retiring, Colin Jackson has gone on to mentor other athletes and become a sports commentator and presenter (Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved ) Olympian Colin Jackson has candidly shared his personal battles with mental health, body dysmorphia and bulimia. Jackson, a Cardiff resident aged 58, boasts an impressive track record in the athletics world, clinching medals on Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European stages, while setting world records, including one that remained unbeaten for over a decade. Yet behind the triumphs, he disclosed his rigorous food restriction during competition and his struggles with bulimia—a condition that involves binge-eating followed by purging to prevent weight gain. Additionally, as Colin neared his retirement at age 36 in 2003, he faced severe panic attacks, which he described as having sensations comparable to "a heart attack" and leading him to "burst into sweat". Through time, support, and mastering coping "tools" such as breathing exercises, Colin has navigated past many of these hurdles and now seeks to "give back" by promoting greater dialogues about mental health, particularly among men. In collaboration with SPAR for its latest summer initiative, SPARk A Conversation, Colin is on the cusp of launching his personal app named Track, Field and Life this month. Article continues below The app, which will share sports results, insightful advice, and narratives from fellow athletes, aims to establish a "safe place" for open communication and mutual "celebration", according to Colin. "For me, as an athlete, I was fortunate that people gave me time and they helped get the best from me, so now it's my time to do exactly the same thing," Colin shared with PA Real Life. "If it culminates in something that's good, and it makes men talk, it makes people across the board look after themselves in a healthy manner, and I was part of that journey, I can have a sense of pride. "I can happily go to my grave, knowing that, do you know what? You were successful there, and you did make a difference." Jackson in action back in 2003 (Image: Rui Vieira/PA ) Colin "always loved" sport growing up but never envisioned himself pursuing a career as a professional athlete. He excelled at many sports at school, before later focusing on athletics – and he said he enjoyed the "play element" of sport most of all. "It was something I did as a kid and I had fun doing it, so that's where my real sporting background began," he explained. Colin said he knew he had an "innate ability" and, by nurturing this, his skills improved rapidly. Along with the challenge of sport itself, he enjoyed setting "personal goals" every year and was determined to achieve them. He won his first major medal, a silver, aged 19, in the 110m hurdles at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, and he won a silver medal at his first Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988, followed by European and Commonwealth gold medals in 1990. He later set a world record of 12.91 seconds in the 110-metre hurdles in 1993, which stood for 13 years. Discussing his sporting career highs, Colin revealed: "I've never really had one. "It sounds bizarre – you make history in your sport, fantastic, no doubt about it, that's brilliant – but every single year of my athletic career, we were always goal orientated. "You had to achieve something in that year and, as long as you achieved what you set out to achieve, then that box was ticked." Colin is hoping to encourage more open conversations (@Wearedusk/PA Real Life) Colin remarked on how people are continually seeking the next triumph, the forthcoming landmark, without "appreciating what (they're) achieving at this moment in time". During his competitive days, he admitted to often comparing himself to fellow athletes and contended with body dysmorphia, thinking he appeared "horrendous". He shared that competitors were commonly underweight and he was "blinded by the norm", leading him to eat less and ultimately developing bulimia. On reflecting upon older photographs, he can now see he was in "really good shape" and aims to encourage more discussions about these issues to assist others. "When that's your norm around you, then you get blinded by the norm," he commented. "It's just like having a beautiful view every single day of your life, you don't see the beauty. "It's exactly the same in professional sport, in that sense, you're sheltered. "I describe it as living in fantasy land... you have no real understanding." As Colin neared his retirement in 2003 at the age of 36, he admitted feeling "anxious", facing panic attacks and initially wondered: "What am I going to do with my time?". But he soon recognised how "blessed" and "action-packed" those years had been, coming to the conclusion that he had to "stop worrying about what's around the corner". "Don't be so anxious," he advised. "Life, whatever path is laid out for you, you will go down." Colin Jackson of Wales celebrates a silver after the Men's 110 metres Hurdles Final at the City of Manchester Stadium during the 2002 Commonwealth Games (Image: Getty Images Sport ) He continued, offering wisdom to others in his position, saying: "If I was going to give advice to anybody who's going to retire from their sport now, I'd say, don't be forced out of your sport. "You will know when you're ready and take the step... and don't think you're going through it on your own." With a wealth of support having contributed to his success, Colin felt compelled to "give that back" after hanging up his boots. His post-retirement journey has led him to roles as a mentor to upcoming athletes, sports commentator and presenter, and more recently, partnering with SPAR for its summertime initiative, SPARk A Conversation. Interesting findings from a study by AF Blakemore, the UK's leading SPAR distributor, disclosed that a staggering 84% of British men favour firing up the barbecue over discussing their genuine feelings. SPAR is collaborating with four local mental health charities – Ways for Wellbeing, Mental Health Matters Wales, Tough Enough to Care and YESS – and has developed a tip sheet, offering advice on how to create "small, meaningful moments", such as starting conversations lightly to encourage people to open up, and emphasising the significance of listening. Jackson, passionate about discussing topics like sport and mental health, has developed his own app named Track, Field and Life, set to launch this month. He explained that the app will include advice, quick updates on sports events, and stories from fellow athletes, aiming to foster "celebration" rather than criticism. Jackson recognises the tragic loss of too many men at a young age due to poor mental health and expressed his commitment to changing this narrative. "We try to get everybody who's involved in athletics to actually find a safe place for them," Colin remarked. Article continues below "I want people to be part of an amazing family and truly connect. I have created something that connects everybody in our family of sport." For further details about the campaign, please visit: If you're seeking advice and support on eating disorders, Beat's website can be accessed here:
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I had a running rash and 111 said get to A&E or we'll send an ambulance'
Daniel, 31, thought it was just a rash from his Parkrun and put cream on it, but then he Googled his symptoms A 31-year-old man who found a dark red rash in his legs dodn't think anything of to as he has just finished a Parkrun. Daniel Chapman put cream on his leg, but the rash spread and over the next few days and he began to develop more worrying symptoms - including fatigue, persistent bleeding after a dental appointment, and dried blood on his pillow. A week on and after Googling his symptoms - 'like millennials do' - Daniel, from Holbeach, in Lincolnshire, visited the doctor's surgery for a blood test. 'Luckily I was working from home and got a message from 111,' he said. 'They said that after the blood test analysis my platelet count was incredibly low. 'If I didn't answer my phone they would send an ambulance and I needed to get to Boston A&E as soon as possible.' A healthy adult typically has between 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microlitre of blood. Daniel's count was at 14 and only rose slightly after treatment at the hospital. 'I was on a transfusion and my temperature was spiking to 42 degrees,' he said. 'I had an MRI scan and was tested for lung capacity and, as my nan said, I got my money's worth.' Daniel was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare and potentially fatal condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells. He now requires regular platelet transfusions and has had both a PICC line and a Hickman line inserted to deliver medication and treatment directly into his bloodstream. The only potential cure is a stem cell transplant, and he is relying on a donor from the Anthony Nolan register. 'It has been a lot. It is not a smoking induced illness, I am not overweight, someone has not run me over,' Daniel says. 'It is just a really bad play on the roulette of life but how can I be angry at fate?' Despite facing a serious diagnosis, Daniel's sense of humour has played a large part in helping him to deal with occasional 'wobbles' during an ongoing stay on the transplant ward. Support from friends and family, including regular hospital visits from his parents, brother and his beloved nan also helped to lift his spirits. Determined to raise awareness, Daniel has now launched a fundraising campaign for Anthony Nolan, the charity that runs the UK's stem cell donor register. 'Anthony Nolan has been fantastic and the fundraising team got in touch with me,' Daniel said. 'People I haven't heard from for ages are joining the Anthony Nolan register. I am not a good dweller and I want to save my energy until I get a donor.' Daniel, who works as an advisor in local government, had also recently secured a place in the public ballot for the London Marathon, and despite his current condition, remains hopeful that he'll be able to take on the challenge next year. 'As a fairly competitive runner, I'm always trying to beat my times or outrun other runners,' he said. 'But this is something that I can't leave, outpace or run away from. It's with me.' If you're aged 16 to 30, you can join the stem cell register, so that someone like Daniel can have a second chance at life:
Glasgow Times
15 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
‘Groundbreaking' drug could slow down progression of type 1 diabetes
Teplizumab, which is already approved in the US, trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells, delaying the need for insulin by an average of three years. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, meaning blood sugar levels are no longer regulated by the body. If blood sugar is too high or low, it can cause serious health problems and even death. People with type 1 therefore need daily insulin. Dentist and mother-of-two, Hannah Robinson, from Devon, is the first adult in the UK to try the drug in the hope it can delay the condition. She is having treatment at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust after discovering during pregnancy she was in the early stages of developing type 1. Hannah Robinson discovered during pregnancy she was in the early stages of developing type 1 diabetes (Family handout/Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust/PA) A handful of people are being given the medicine on a case-by-case basis while it is reviewed for wider use on the NHS. The 36-year-old said: 'For me, this new drug offers more freedom and the chance to focus on my health before I have to start thinking differently and managing life as somebody needing daily insulin. 'This isn't just about what I eat or monitoring my glucose, it is also about having more control and not feeling defined by my condition. 'This treatment could potentially pave the way for a future cure for type 1 diabetes, which is incredible. I feel very lucky to be part of this.' The new drug teplizumab must be given at the earliest stage of the disease to be effective. Dr Nick Thomas, diabetes consultant and academic clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, said: 'This new treatment represents a really exciting shift in how we manage type 1 diabetes. 'For the first time ever, we will be able to provide targeted treatment early enough in the process to alter the underlying immune process, aiming to slow down how quickly people need insulin. 'Approximately half of all type 1 diabetes cases develop in adulthood, and Hannah will be the first adult in the UK to receive this treatment. 'My hope is that in the future, we may be able to stop people with early type 1 diabetes from needing insulin at all.' Teplizumab, which is already approved in the US, trains the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic cells, delaying the need for insulin by up to three years (Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust/PA) Experts at the Royal Devon and the University of Exeter are using genetics and other testing to spot people at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The hope is more people could be offered the drug to delay type 1. Dr Lucy Chambers, head of research impact and communications at Diabetes UK, said: 'For people in the early stages of type 1 diabetes, teplizumab offers a groundbreaking opportunity to buy them precious extra years insulin-free. 'Right now, it's only available in research settings – and while the excitement is real, urgent work is still needed to ensure it reaches everyone who could benefit. 'That means securing a UK licence for teplizumab, establishing national screening programmes to identify people with early-stage type 1 diabetes before symptoms appear, and preparing the NHS to deliver this treatment at scale. 'Diabetes UK is proud to be at the forefront of these efforts – funding pioneering research and working closely with the NHS towards a future where immunotherapies become the first-line treatment for tackling the autoimmune attack at the root of type 1 diabetes.' Professor Richard Oram, consultant physician at the Royal Devon and professor at the University of Exeter, said: 'Excitingly, teplizumab is the first drug with the potential to delay type 1 diabetes, but needs to be given before clinical diagnosis due to high blood glucose. 'It is really important to find new and improved approaches for identifying individuals at elevated risk.'
