A TAUNTON dad who lost his son to a brain tumour has toured a research centre where scientists are working towards a cure for the devastating disease.

Gordon Carter, 92, took on a wing-walk above Dunkeswell Aerodrome in 2021 to raise funds for national charity Brain Tumour Research.

Watched by his late son Martin’s partner Diane Scully, three of Gordon’s children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Gordon attracted over £3,000 sponsorship.

Gordon and Diane have now visited the charity’s Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University, London, which is leading research into glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of brain tumour in adults which Martin had.

Martin, who lived near Martock, ran a communications consultancy, and was a journalist with newspapers including the Swindon Advertiser and Bridgwater Mercury before working as an NHS communications director.

In 2016, Martin was on holiday in Mauritius when he went to hospital with an excruciating headache. A scan revealed he had an aggressive and inoperable GBM brain tumour.

He was transferred to Yeovil District Hospital, but died13 weeks later.

Diane said: “Martin was a big personality; he loved life so much and was always full of the joys of life.

"He was like his dad in many respects, particularly with his love of life, but also in his love of literature and language.

“He would have loved that his dad took on a wing-walk to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.

"Treatments for brain tumour patients have barely changed in decades and research into finding better outcomes and ultimately a cure is so grossly underfunded.”

During their visit to the labs at Queen Mary University, Gordon and Diane spoke to scientists about their work to find a cure for the disease and placed a tile on the Wall of Hope.

Gordon said: “It was emotional placing Martin’s tile on the Wall of Hope and heartening to hear from the scientists about the work being done in their quest to find a cure.”

Mel Tiley, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re really grateful to Gordon for his fundraising and hope that the visit to our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London offered a useful insight into all we’re doing to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet, historically, just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.”

For information about sponsoring a day of research, visit www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/sponsor-a-day