Boston man who was given months to live after receiving brain tumour diagnosis on Christmas Eve is backing campaign to rise awareness of the disease

After being diagnosed with a brain tumour on Christmas Eve, Joshua Cullen was told he had just months to live.

But now, three years later, the 27-year-old is thriving and helping to raise awareness of the disease by taking part in a charity Advent Appeal..

Joshua, from Boston, was told he had just 12-18 months to live when he found out he had a gliobastoma (GBM).

Joshua has shared his story as part of an online Brain Tumour Research Advent Calendar which shares daily stories from people who have been diagnosed with the disease – reminding people why research into brain tumours is so important.

“The Advent Appeal is a great campaign to try and raise awareness of brain tumours, which have a devastating effect on families,” Joshua explained.

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“They kill more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer and yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease since records began in 2002.

“I’d encourage anyone who can to donate to the appeal.”

Since his diagnosis, his family and friends have raised nearly £2,000 through a number of fundraising challenges for Brain Tumour Research.

Joshua and his sister, Maria, abseiled down the ArcelorMittal tower at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, and their mum, Magdi, cycled 2,000km from the Czech Republic to the UK.

In his video, which sits behind today’s door (December 23), Joshua said: “It’s the third anniversary since I was diagnosed, something I am very lucky to reach.

“This is because people like me only have an average life expectancy of 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.

“Only five percent of us make it further than five years.

“We need all the support you can give, whether by fundraising or donating. So if you can give in any way to Brain Tumour Research, please do.”

The calendar was launched with a message from Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell, who is a Brain Tumour Research patron and GBM patient.

It is hoped the poignant stories it contains will inspire visitors to make a donation to the charity, ultimately helping to find a cure for people like Joshua.

Matthew Price, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Please help us to raise awareness of the indiscriminate nature of brain tumours this December and to raise vital funds to get us closer to our vision of finding a cure, thereby bringing hope to everyone affected by this devastating disease.

“You can watch Joshua’s video, and all those revealed so far, at www.braintumourresearch.org/advent-appeal and give the gift of hope this festive season.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.

It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.

To find out more about Brain Tumour Research, go to www.braintumourresearch.org.

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