Eamonn Nugent, a 31-year-old from Bellshill who passed away in October 2024, has become the inspiration behind Eamonn’s Vision, a fundraising group dedicated to Brain Tumour Research.
A senior orthoptist at University Hospital Galway in Ireland, Eamonn was diagnosed in 2022 with a high-grade astrocytoma – an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Despite undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, his tumour recurred in the summer of 2024, and he passed away just three months after marrying his wife, Sarah Groonell.
Sarah said: “Eamonn was very keen to support research to bring about better outcomes for brain tumour patients.
“In the months before he passed away, Eamonn, a talented musician who played the bodhran – a traditional Irish drum – created an album called The Waiting Room.
“It consisted of his favourite recordings of traditional Irish music he had played on, which he sold to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research and Brain Tumour Ireland.
“We’re launching Eamonn’s Vision, a fundraising group under the umbrella of Brain Tumour Research, to keep Eamonn’s vision alive.”
SResearchers at the Scottish Centre of Excellencearah and Eamonn on their wedding day (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
The Nugent family, including Sarah and Eamonn’s sister Ciara McAlpine, from Motherwell, attended an event marking the first anniversary of the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence.
During the visit, the family placed two tiles on the centre’s Wall of Hope, each representing a day of research sponsored in Eamonn’s memory.
Ciara said: “We’ve raised more than £12,000 for Brain Tumour Research through participating in the charity’s Motherwell Walk of Hope, its 10,000 Steps a Day in February challenge and my zipslide across the Clyde, as well as asking for donations instead of gifts on occasion.
“Seeing the work at the Scottish centre first-hand was very powerful and reminded me that treatment options for brain cancer patients have barely changed for the last couple of decades, underlining the need for continued focus and investment.
“I hope the pioneering work being undertaken here gives future families affected better options and better outcomes.”
To donate to Eamonn’s Vision, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/eamonnsvision.
The cover of Eamonn’s album The Waiting Room (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
The Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, launched in partnership with Brain Tumour Research and Beatson Cancer Charity, brings together leading scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Professor Steven Pollard, co-director of the centre, said: “Our priority now is to strengthen the connection between scientific discovery and clinical trials, so that promising new ideas can be developed into treatments that are ready to be tested in patients.
“We know the clinical teams in Edinburgh and Glasgow are ready to evaluate new therapies, and our focus is on building the expertise and infrastructure needed to move new approaches, including innovative medicines and gene therapy, through to that stage more effectively.
“By doing this, we hope not only to progress our own research, but also to work more closely with industry and other partners to increase the number of treatment options available to people affected by brain tumours.”
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease since records began in 2002.
More than 1000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year, including 433 people with a high-grade diagnosis.
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.
The charity also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours to help speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.
Legacy of tragic cancer victim to inspire fight in his memory (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
“This centre represents exactly what our supporters’ fundraising makes possible: world-class work with a clear focus on improving outcomes for patients.
“By helping to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real patient benefit, the Scottish centre plays a vital role within our growing national network.
“Progress against brain tumours will not happen overnight, but sustained investment in centres like this brings us closer to our ultimate goal of better treatments, improved survival and, one day, a cure.”
To learn more about the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, visit https://braintumourresearch.org/pages/information-centres-of-excellence.
