Latest news with #BeatsonCancerCharity
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Family from near Glasgow gears up for Christmas in July
It may only be July, but Michelle McGhee and her loved ones have already spent weeks working on a spectacular light show featuring 60,000 bulbs, which will raise funds for Beatson Cancer Charity. The 42-year-old is known locally in Barrhead for her decorations and music at Hallowe'en but has decided to replicate the idea for Christmas instead to honour her late father-in-law Jim McGhee, who was from Cardonald. Jim McGhee passed away aged just 56 (Image: Newsquest) The 56-year-old, who loved festive lights, sadly died in November 2019 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer for a second time. Michelle said: 'Jim was the best. He was so bubbly and so cheeky and everybody who knew him, knew him as a joker. 'He took redundancy and finished up work at Marks and Spencer and under two weeks later he was away. 'He went into the hospital with stomach pain and was diagnosed again but there was nothing that could be done by that point." READ NEXT: Iconic Glasgow West End restaurant to close this month 'My mum-in-law said I really wish Jim had one more chance to see his lights because he loved Christmas lights and used to put them on the tree outside," she added. "So the night before he came home we all ran about and went up into the loft pulling all the Christmas decorations out. "The neighbours must have thought we were mental." Michelle's brother has been working hard programming the lights on the computer (Image: Newsquest) From then on, Michelle and her husband James', her two sisters-in-law and her mother-in-law have put our decorations up every year on November 15, the anniversary of Jim's passing. Fittingly they have decided to launch the light show on this date. Michelle said Jim was just the best (Image: Newsquest) The family plan to run the half-hour light show back-to-back four times, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, from 6.30pm and 8.30pm. 'We have started planning early because you need to programme every individual light, which is a big task, but my brother, thankfully is amazing with the computer, so he's the brains behind the operation,' she explained. Michelle with her husband James and sons Alex and Malakai (Image: Newsquest) Michelle has also bought a 12-feet Christmas tree for outside her Braeside Drive home. Her four children have also been helping to make baubles, which the family is going to sell. They plan to put the names of loved ones on each one so that others feel like their family members and friends are part of the light display. Michelle with her husband James and sons Alex and Malakai (Image: Newsquest) 'My kids are absolutely buzzing for it and they are loving being part of it,' she added. 'Everybody in the street is buzzing about it, I think because everybody in some way has been touched by cancer. It's such a widespread, universal thing. 'Everybody feels it when they hear that word.'
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
TV star with brain tumour joins squats challenge to raise funds to find cure
Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell, of East Lothian, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2022, a highly-aggressive form of brain tumour with a life expectancy of 12-18 months. Burrell, 38, is halfway through the 88 Squats A Day In July challenge, which she has taken on despite currently having treatment. Funds raised will go towards Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease. Despite an initial small target of £500, the TV star has so far raised more than £7,500 and still has two weeks left of the challenge. 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. 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.' Burrell's fundraising page can be found at
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
TV star with brain tumour joins squats challenge to raise funds to find cure
Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell, of East Lothian, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2022, a highly-aggressive form of brain tumour with a life expectancy of 12-18 months. Burrell, 38, is halfway through the 88 Squats A Day In July challenge, which she has taken on despite currently having treatment. Funds raised will go towards Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease. Despite an initial small target of £500, the TV star has so far raised more than £7,500 and still has two weeks left of the challenge. 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. 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.' Burrell's fundraising page can be found at
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
TV star with brain tumour joins squats challenge to raise funds to find cure
Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell, of East Lothian, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2022, a highly-aggressive form of brain tumour with a life expectancy of 12-18 months. Burrell, 38, is halfway through the 88 Squats A Day In July challenge, which she has taken on despite currently having treatment. Funds raised will go towards Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease. Despite an initial small target of £500, the TV star has so far raised more than £7,500 and still has two weeks left of the challenge. 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. 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.' Burrell's fundraising page can be found at
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
TV star with brain tumour joins squats challenge to raise funds to find cure
Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell, of East Lothian, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2022, a highly-aggressive form of brain tumour with a life expectancy of 12-18 months. Burrell, 38, is halfway through the 88 Squats A Day In July challenge, which she has taken on despite currently having treatment. Funds raised will go towards Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease. Despite an initial small target of £500, the TV star has so far raised more than £7,500 and still has two weeks left of the challenge. 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. 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.' Burrell's fundraising page can be found at
