What is Simon Hollister's diagnosis and treatment goal?

Simon Hollister has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, and needs to raise £80,000 for life-extending treatment.

How much funding does Glioblastoma research receive in the UK?

Simon Hollister states that only one percent of funding for brain tumours is allocated to Glioblastoma research in the UK.

What are the symptoms that led to Simon Hollister's diagnosis?

Simon experienced dizzy spells, head rushes, and a strange smell in his nose, prompting him to seek a private brain scan.

Home / Health / Dad's Last Christmas? £80k Needed for Cancer Treatment

Dad's Last Christmas? £80k Needed for Cancer Treatment

24 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Simon Hollister, 54, needs £80,000 for aggressive brain cancer treatment.
He was diagnosed with Glioblastoma after experiencing dizzy spells.
Government funding for Glioblastoma research is criticized as insufficient.

Dad's Last Christmas? £80k Needed for Cancer Treatment

A father of two, Simon Hollister, is desperately seeking to raise £80,000 for vital cancer treatment, fearing this Christmas could be his last. The 54-year-old was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a severe form of brain cancer, after experiencing alarming symptoms like dizziness and strange smells. Despite an initial surgery removing 80% of the tumor, the disease is terminal, prompting his urgent fundraising efforts.

Simon, who has moved from Manchester to Weybridge, Surrey, is currently paying £1,000 per month for the drug Avastin, which has shown positive results but comes with side effects like short-term memory loss. Without private health insurance and unable to work, he relies on public generosity to fund further treatment. He has already raised approximately £17,000 through a GoFundMe page and selling possessions.

He emphasizes the critical need for more research and government support for Glioblastoma, noting that only one percent of brain tumour funding is allocated to this specific cancer, affecting around 3,200 people annually in the UK. Simon's fight is not just for his own survival but also to ensure he can spend more Christmases with his wife Zoë and sons Raphael and Gabriel.