A young man, who grew up in Beckenham where his parents still live, with plans to marry his partner of 12 years and start a family until his life was tragically cut short, has inspired his work colleagues to name The Darel Bryan Foundation, raising funds for Brain Tumour Research, as their Charity of the Year.

Darel Bryan met his partner and soulmate, Natalie Overs when they were both students at Greenwich University in 2005. From the very first day they were almost inseparable and remained utterly devoted to each other right up until his untimely death. Natalie, 33, who now lives alone in the flat she shared with Darel in Bow following his death in February 2016, aged just 34, is struggling to come to terms with what has happened. She said: “I will never forget the phone call I had on 20th November 2014 from Darel’s work colleague and best friend, Samantha Littley, telling me Darel had suffered a seizure. I couldn’t even comprehend this at the time because Darel was one of the healthiest people I knew. He never even got colds.

“It was so traumatic to discover that he had a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM4), the most aggressive, deadly and sadly the most common brain tumour, with a typical prognosis of 12 to 18 months survival.

“After six weeks of radiotherapy, twelve months of five chemotherapies cycles, two surgeries, over five months of hospital stays, nearly four months of being bedbound, every alternative and natural treatment for GBM4, diet changes, a nutritionist who specialises in brain tumours in the US, a large cocktail of repurposed drugs… the battle was over and no more could be done to save the love of my life. We tried everything we possibly could but GBM4 really is a battle that to date is impossible to overcome.

“It doesn’t make sense to think that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.”

Since losing Darel, Natalie and his family have set up The Darel Bryan Foundation under the umbrella of pioneering national charity Brain Tumour Research to raise funds to find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure for brain tumours.

Darel joined the Maple House office of Affinity Sutton housing association in Bromley, now part of Clarion Housing Group, as a Housing Officer in March 2008 and continued as an employee until his diagnosis in December 2015. His mother, Sara Bryan, who lives in Beckenham, is a Customer Service Advisor for Clarion Housing, also at Maple House (having joined Affinity Sutton in July 2006).

Earlier in the year, Clarion Housing Group (which provides affordable homes for people who can’t meet their housing needs in the market) invited staff to nominate a charity of their choice to become Clarion’s Charity of the Year. Sara Bryan, explained: “Three charities were shortlisted. I was so touched when the Darel Bryan Foundation (raising funds for Brain Tumour Research) won with 65% of the vote, reflecting the respect and affection Darel’s colleagues had for him.

“Darel’s Dad, Cliff, his sister Claudine and I are finding the loss of our beloved Darel very tough – we miss him every day. We hope that Clarion’s fundraising and the work of the Darel Bryan Foundation will help to bring more effective treatments and ultimately a cure for future patients, creating a lasting legacy.”

Sandra Sanglin, head of corporate social responsibility at Clarion Housing Group, said: “Each office within the group will be organising fundraising events to raise money for the Darel Bryan Foundation, with ideas to date including bake sales, tuck shops, quizzes and dress-down Fridays. Already, in March this year, Darel’s work colleagues at the Maple House office have organised A Black Tie Ball at the Selsdon Park Hotel in South Croydon, which raised an awesome £7,500 for the Darel Bryan Foundation. Another ball is planned next year. A Football Tournament in Darel’s memory that they organised last year (which raised £950) is due to be repeated later this year. Clarion Housing will match all funds raised. A total close to £50,000 was raised for Well Child, our previous Charity of the Year.”

Carol Robertson, Brain Tumour Research’s head of community fundraising, said: “We are delighted that Clarion Housing Group are honouring their memory of Darel in this way and have chosen us as their Charity of the Year and we are hugely grateful for their plans to fundraise and raise awareness.

“Brain Tumour Research is striving to fund a network of seven dedicated research centres whilst challenging the government and larger cancer charities to invest more in brain tumour research. Help us fund the fight. Together we will find a cure.”

Brain Tumour Research is campaigning to see the national spend on research into brain tumours increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia. The charity, which receives no Government funding, is building a network of experts working at world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK, with four already established.

www.braintumourresearch.org www.clarionhg.com To make a donation to The Darel Bryan Foundation go to www.justgiving.com/teams/TheDarelBryanFoundation

Submitted by Liz Fussey