Raising funds for Callum’s brain tumour treatment.

My name is Sarah-Jane and I'm mum to Callum and William. I'm raising funds to help with treatment for my wonderful son Callum.

On the 20th of January 2025, I received a phone call from school to collect Callum as he had a bad headache. His stepdad was nearby and went to pick him up, but quickly realised something was very wrong; Callum was completely out of character. On the way home, he suffered a seizure, and they rushed straight to A&E at Broomfield Hospital. Callum spent a week in hospital undergoing tests and scans, which initially pointed to a possible viral infection.

As Callum is only 15, we were given a follow-up MRI at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, where on the 31st of January, we were told the devastating news that Callum has a large brain tumour. A few days later, Callum had surgery to take a biopsy of the tumour. On the 11th of February, our worst fears were confirmed; Callum’s tumour is cancerous and inoperable due to its diffuse nature.

Callum is now coming towards the end of his 6-week daily radiotherapy at UCLH Teenage Cancer Centre in London and daily chemotherapy tablets. Chemotherapy will continue in cycles, but beyond that, there are currently no other treatment options available to him on the NHS.

Callum is a funny, kind, loving, friendly boy who always looks out for others. He is a brilliant big brother to William, who is only a year younger than him, and his little sister, Amelia, who is 7 years old.

Callum is in Year 10 at St John Payne School in Chelmsford, previously at St Helens Catholic Primary School in Brentwood, and loves going to school, even managing to get back for a few days after his surgery to see his friends. Callum enjoys swimming, cycling, weight training, basketball, and playing Minecraft. He’s working hard towards sitting his GCSEs next year.

This has come completely out of the blue for our family. Before the 20th of January, Callum was fit and healthy and didn’t have any other symptoms. This has completely turned our world upside down.

Along with our friends and family, we have been researching day and night other treatment options, including pioneering immunotherapy available abroad—in particular, in Germany.

We are now raising funds to give Callum the best chance with this alternative treatment. We believe there is hope for Callum, and anything you can do to support our family, big or small, is appreciated beyond words, whether by donating or simply sharing this page.

With Love,

Mark, Sarah-Jane, Callum, and William x