A Sutton widow will be joining the many taking part in Wear A Hat Day this March to raise money and awareness for the brain cancer that her husband died from.
Julia Dailey, 58, from Cheam has pledged to take part in the annual fundraising day for the Brain Tumour Research charity on (Friday) March 31.
The event is currently in its 14th year running and has so far raised over £2 million for brain tumour research.
Julia lost her husband Steve who sadly died on his 69th birthday after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) at the beginning of 2020.
Julia explained how the IT programme director had begun to feel unwell in the Christmas of 2019 and within a short space of time his symptoms had worsened to the point where he needed the use of a wheelchair by January 2020.
The mother of one and stepmother of three said: “During Christmas 2019, Steve felt fluey and was really tired.
“That went on for a couple of weeks and by January he wasn’t getting better, so I insisted he went to the GP where he had some bloods taken.
“The results were negative but I really wasn’t happy because he still wasn’t well.
“I did a stroke test on him because he looked lethargic and his left arm didn’t rise as high as the other.
“His eyes were also flickering so I rang for an ambulance.
“His blood pressure was through the roof.
“He was taken to hospital where he had some simple neurological tests, which, amazingly, he couldn’t do.
“Then they did a CT scan and found his tumour.”
“Steve went from having just those symptoms in the January to being in a wheelchair with no awareness of his left side at all by the end”.
Steve explored options to treat the cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as privately funding a drug unavailable on the NHS.
However, Steve sadly passed away on his 69th birthday after a 10-month battle with the disease.
Julia said: “It was all so horrible and happened so fast. That’s why I’m so passionate about campaigning and fundraising now that I feel I’ve come out of the darkness.
“The saving grace is the fact Steve wasn’t in any pain. He didn’t have a single headache and he never lost himself.
"We’re so grateful for that”.
Julia has pledged to re-join the fundraising campaign after taking a step back from the fundraiser after the loss of her husband.
Julia said: “My friends and family took part in Wear A Hat Day soon after Steve’s diagnosis.
“They were brilliant and sent us lots of pictures.
“We haven’t had the strength to go back and do it since but this year we’re going to get involved.”
Julia will be joining the fundraiser alongside her close friend who lost her sister a year before Steve was diagnosed who has a “large collection” of hats to choose from.
Julia said: “Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and young people under the age of 40 and yet get so little funding, historically just 1%.
“Steve saw this in the people he was in hospital with and hated going for scans alongside children.
“It seems you have to fight for everything these days but this is worth fighting for. I don’t want this tragedy for anyone else”.
Wear A Hat Day is set to return next month and funds raised will go towards campaigning to increase the UK investment in brain tumour research.
Participants are encouraged to wear a hat, make a donation and share a selfie on social media using #WearAHatDay.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “With one in three people knowing someone affected by a brain tumour, Steve’s story is, sadly, not unique.
“We’re determined to change that but it’s only by working together we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.
“We’re really grateful for Julia’s support and wish her an enjoyable Wear A Hat Day in Steve’s memory”.
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