In Sue’s Name has raised nearly half-a-million pounds since being launched by David Taylor in honour of daughter Sue, reports Philbert Osei-Wusu 

A Winchmore Hill charity founder funding brain tumour research in honour of his daughter has toured a centre where scientists hope to find a cure.

David Taylor set up In Sue’s Name in 2014 after he lost his eldest daughter, Sue Blasotta, to a brain tumour at the age of 42 – just six weeks after her diagnosis. The charity is a member of Brain Tumour Research and is targeting a £1million goal to fund tumour research at Queen Mary University of London.

David was recently invited to attend the university’s brain tumour research centre to acknowledge his contribution in funding it, with In Sue’s Name so far donating more than £435,000 – enough to sponsor the equivalent of 158 days of research.

Sue was a mum-of-two who had herself completed five charity runs in Trent Park as well as a sky dive to raise funds for cancer research. Sue was treated for her tumour at Royal Free Hospital, which confirmed she had glioblastoma, the most aggressive and incurable type of adult brain tumour. She died before she could even begin chemotherapy, in January 2011.

His daughter’s death led David to find out more about brain tumours. He said: “I can still remember my complete shock and disbelief when I discovered that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. This is unacceptable.”

Last week a group of guests from In Sue’s Name were given the opportunity to tour the labs at Queen Mary University of London, led by principal investigator Professor Silvia Marino. The delegation spoke to scientists and also placed tiles on a ‘wall of hope’ dedicated to people who have died of brain tumours.

Sue Farrington Smith, chief executive at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re really grateful to In Sue’s Name and all our member charities who help us fund our centres of excellence. We were delighted to welcome them again to Queen Mary.”

David added: “I am so grateful to all who support In Sue’s Name and I am especially grateful to the families placing tiles on the wall of hope, signifying precious days of research we are sponsoring.”

For more information about Brain Tumour Research:
Visit braintumourresearch.org/campaigning/stark-facts

To make a donation to In Sue’s Name:
Visit totalgiving.co.uk/donate/in-sues-name

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.  

More information on supporting us monthly or yearly 

More Information about donations