FUNDS RAISED WILL BE MATCHED BY COOPERBURNETT

We are very saddened to share the news that Oli Hilsdon, the young man we have been fundraising for over the past few months at CooperBurnett has passed away. Oli – who is the cousin of our colleague Katie Hilsdon – needed vital treatment for brain cancer and our fundraising efforts have been concentrated on supporting this cause.

“Our thoughts are with Oli’s family – including our colleague Katie – and his friends,” says Victoria Sampson, Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial Services at CooperBurnett. “Our fundraising efforts will continue apace in Oli’s memory and, having spoken with his family, we have made the decision to donate all the money we raise to the charity Brain Tumour Research – which Oli himself supported.”

Oli had just graduated from Cambridge when, in August 2014, he had a seizure completely out of the blue. Tests were run and he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and given the devastating prognosis of 12 to 18 months to live.

Oli proved the doctors wrong and after undergoing treatment was given the all clear. He then went on to run the London Marathon in 2016, raising an incredible £60,000 for Brain Tumour Research.

Unfortunately, more tests revealed the tumour had returned and Oli underwent brain surgery to remove the affected tumour and embarked on more chemotherapy treatment.

Oli’s oncologist wanted him to receive a vaccine made from a culture developed
from the tumour they have removed, which is not available on the NHS, and we
were raising money to pay for this treatment.

“We would like to thank you for all your tremendous kindness, generosity and support,” Oli’s mother Jayne says on his fundraising page. “We are forever grateful to each and every one of you for enabling Oli to receive treatment, including two cycles of the vaccine. He was due to receive the third vaccine just before Christmas but unfortunately his health deteriorated suddenly and he passed away in January at home, surrounded by his family and so much love, just days before his 27^th birthday.”

The vision of the charity Brain Tumour Research is to ‘find a cure for brain tumours’. Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. However the charity says that, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.

The charity is building a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated centres of excellence, whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally.

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK that is dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours and it is a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling ‘the last battleground against cancer’.

CooperBurnett is already planning a number of charity events and challenges in aid of Brain Tumour Research, including an epic cycle ride from London to Paris in just 24 hours in May.

“Everybody here was struck by Oli’s story and his persistence to keep going,” says Victoria, who is part of the cycle team. “With this in mind, we will be pulling together even more as a team to raise as much money as we can in Oli’s memory. I am very pleased to announce that CooperBurnett shall be match funding every pound raised during our herculean effort. My partners and I are passionate about raising as much as we can for brain tumour research and will be encouraging donors to donate all they can afford so we can proudly match it.”

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