As the Chair of the Brain Tumour APPG, Rebecca Harris MP met with Wes Streeting MP who is campaigning for more research into diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) brain tumours, which are almost universally fatal. Kaleigh is a 6 year old girl in his constituency who has one of these rare brain tumours.

Her family have shown exceptional courage in the face of this difficulty and as part of their campaign to raise awareness they have created ‘Kaleigh bears’ which many famous people, including JK Rowling, Mo Farah, Olly Murs & the X Factor judges, have had photos with to show support.

Rebecca supported the petition to increase funding, and the government responded by setting up a new working group on how to increase the impact and quantity of brain tumour research, including that on DIPG to achieve better outcomes for patients and their families. The Government agrees that an increase in the level of research into DIPG and other brain tumours is crucial in order to achieve better outcomes for patients and their families who are affected by these devastating diseases.