Parents inspire company’s month-long fundraiser in memory of son who died from a brain tumour
A global soft drinks manufacturer has rallied behind two parent employees to raise funds and awareness of brain tumours, in memory of their son who died from the disease 10 years ago.
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Finlay, known to all as Fin, died in 2015 when he was just 11. His parents, Penny and Wayne Church, from Birmingham, have mobilised their colleagues at Refresco UK to dedicate March’s fundraising efforts to the charity Brain Tumour Research.
March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month which was launched in 2004 by a group of charities that went on to become founding members of Brain Tumour Research. The charity is marking its 15th anniversary with a month-long programme of events to highlight the devastation caused by the disease which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
The month culminates with Wear A Hat Day, one of the UK’s biggest and best-loved brain tumour awareness and fundraising days on Friday 28 March.
Staff at Refresco UK will be taking part in bake sales, raffles, and challenges to raise both funds and awareness of the devastating diseas
Penny said: “Fin was full of life, funny, kind, and brave. When he was diagnosed, we were shocked to learn how little funding and awareness brain tumours receive. Despite everything, he never lost his smile.
“This year marks an incredibly significant milestone for us as it will be Fin’s 10-year angelversary and what would have been his 21st birthday. It means so much to Wayne and me to see our colleagues come together for a month to raise funds in Fin’s memory. My biggest fear is that he’ll be forgotten, or that he died in vain. We can’t do anything more for Fin, but we will fight until the day we die to try and make a difference for others facing this disease.”
In 2014, Fin began suffering from headaches and vomiting while on a camping trip, which led to scans diagnosing him with a glioblastoma – an aggressive and cancerous brain tumour, with a prognosis of 12 to 18 months.
Despite surgery and treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Fin succumbed to the disease 17 months after his diagnosis and passed away, surrounded by his loving family. Since then, Penny and Wayne have raised over £160,000 for research, funding 59 days of research at the charity’s five Centres of Excellence, all focused on finding a cure for brain tumours.
Sally-Anne Griffiths, HR Director for Refresco UK, said: “Our teams across Refresco really love fundraising for their favourite charities, but this one is very close to our hearts being in aid of a charity supported by Penny and Wayne in memory of Finlay.
“Whilst we’ve had a lot of fun and been able to raise some funds, we are really honoured to assist Penny and Wayne, and Brain Tumour Research, and grateful for the chance to also raise brain tumour awareness for our teams, as part of our wellbeing activity.”
The month-long campaign leads up to a charity ball organised by the Churches on May 17 – three days before Fin’s ‘heavenly’ 21st birthday – where family, friends, and colleagues will celebrate his life. The first ball, held 10 years ago and before Fin’s passing, raised £25,000 for Brain Tumour Research and funded the purchase of a £25,000 television for the MRI suite at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to help children cope better during lengthy scans.
Penny said: “It’s been 10 years since we held a ball, as I never felt ready to do it again. This year, it feels like the right time to mark these milestones and celebrate Fin’s life with another event, inviting all the people who have supported us over the past decade so we can remember him together.
“When Fin was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, I remember wishing it was leukaemia because at least then, there would be hope. That’s the brutal reality of his type of brain tumour, where the outcomes are so grim and funding for research is deeply lacking.
“Right now, a glioblastoma is a death sentence, and in this day and age, that is outrageous. We will never stop fighting to change that and, hopefully, save other families from the pain we’ve endured.”
Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of Penny, Wayne, and everyone at Refresco UK. Their dedication to raising awareness and funds in memory of Finlay is inspiring. This campaign not only helps drive vital research but also brings attention to the urgent need for more funding for brain tumour research. Every effort, no matter how big or small, makes a difference in the fight against this devastating disease.”
To support Refresco UK’s fundraising for Brain Tumour Research in Fin’s memory, visit:
