A professional musician who was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was a toddler has visited Westminster to hear MPs and clinicians review a year of momentous progress.
Rosie Glass, from Dartford, attended the All Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) at the House of Commons on Tuesday 17th July.
She was among families, patients, clinicians, carers, scientists, and MPs, at the event as the group set out priorities for the forthcoming parliamentary year. They heard that the APPGBT would drive forward recommendations of an inquiry into the social and economic impacts of brain tumours when it reports in the autumn.
Among the speakers was Sue Farrington Smith, Chief Executive of the Brain Tumour Research charity, who said: “We are proud to have played a key role as the APPGBT has campaigned for change over 12 years. We now look forward to the inquiry report as well as continuing to see the impact of the newly-formed Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission along with new funding commitments and other initiatives announced this year.”
Flautist and part-time music teacher Rosie, 37, was diagnosed with an astrocytoma when she was 18-months-old and since then has had to undergo surgery, radiotherapy and immunotherapy as the tumour recurred three times. Her tumour has remained stable since 2007, however, Rosie now lives with a severe visual impairment.
Rosie said: “My tumour has been stable for 11 years and the sight-loss has been just about adaptable, yet the complications of the disease continue to impact my life. Having a disability has limited my career prospects and I’ve had to deal with the stigma that comes with walking with a white cane. I’m passionate about supporting people with any kind of impairment, and I want to help the Brain Tumour Research charity improve outcomes for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.”
For more information go to www.braintumourresearch.org.