Buckinghamshire's Brain Tumour Research charity appoints new Director of Fundraising

Jason Rigby, 50, from Hungerford, Berkshire, joined the organisation this week as Brain Tumour Awareness Month gets underway. Previously Director of Fundraising and Communications with Children with Cancer UK, Jason also has extensive experience in the commercial sector including at Mitie, Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone.

Jason has very personal reasons to join the fight to find a cure for brain tumours. He has experienced the double tragedy of losing his father and brother to glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of the disease.

“We all go through tragedy but I feel that this appointment gives me the opportunity of a lifetime to turn my experience into something positive and to make a difference to a cause that is so dear to my heart,” said Jason.

Jason’s father Andrew Gardner died in June 2019 at the age of 73. He left a wife Pat, with whom he ran an upmarket clothes shop in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, for many years. Some 30 years earlier Patrick, Jason’s only sibling, was just 17 when he passed away having undergone surgery and treatment.

Jason added: “I was 19 when Patrick died. He was the quiet, intelligent one and I was the older brother who was always looking out for him. I can remember being called to the hospital where he was lying with a tube helping him to breathe. When he died, there was a sense of relief that his suffering was over.

“It seemed almost unbelievable for Dad to be diagnosed with the same type of tumour 30 years later. It’s hard to imagine the pain Mum has been through, having to bury her son and then losing her husband to the same disease when they should have been enjoying their well-earned retirement. Sadly, my family is not alone. Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age. I consider myself privileged to be able to work to help other families who have been affected and I look forward to making a difference in memory of my father and my brother and on behalf of the many, many others who have been touched by this cruel disease.”

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK singularly focused on finding a cure for brain tumours through campaigning for an increase in the national investment into research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a sustainable network of brain tumour research centres in the UK.

Chief Executive Sue Farrington Smith MBE said: “Jason joins at a challenging time. Thanks to our loyal supporters and a restructure of the team we remain confident in our ambition to extend our network of Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Our vision is to find a cure for brain tumours and we look forward to getting back on track with our growth strategy while recovering the £1 million which was lost to research because of the pandemic.”

For more information please visit: http://www.braintumourresearch.org