Mother whose son died of a tumour welcomes change

A mother whose son died of a brain tumour has welcomed government plans to speed up research into the disease.

Ellie Thompson's son Billy passed away when he was four years old from an aggressive brain tumour.

On Wednesday elite Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours two years ago, met Prime Minister Andy Burnham to discuss funding.

Speaking on BBC Radio Surrey, Ellie, from Great Bookham, praised Archie: "It is an honour to be alongside him and all the other amazing people that have lost someone or have brain tumours themselves."

That afternoon, Downing Street announced steps which it says means people living with brain cancer "will get a faster route from research to treatment".

Ellie's son Billy was four years old when he died in her arms just five months after diagnosis.

She said: "To be told there is nothing they can do apart from radiotherapy... it was hopeless."

Now Ellie says she and other campaigners are finally making change.

The Brain Tumour Charity says the government has made a "generational shift" in how brain tumours are seen after the decision to speed up research into the disease.

A spokesperson for the charity says the announcement is a moment of "real celebration" and has thanked Archie.

The Downing Street meeting followed the swimmer's emotional plea in August on BBC Breakfast, when he addressed the Prime Minister directly and called for greater government action.

The charity says brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 and, for some of the most aggressive types, standard NHS treatments have not significantly changed in decades.

Ellie, who campaigns to fund research for brain tumours, says: "Taking the fight right to the PM is incredible and having that commitment from Andy Burnham means something."

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