The Journey Begins
The Wayne Browne Charity is born from a deeply personal journey, a family's fight against a relentless disease that underscores the urgent need for change. Our story is Wayne's story, a testament to resilience, the unwavering power of family, and the heartbreaking realities of a cancer that desperately needs more.
In April 2015, our world shifted when Wayne received his first brain cancer diagnosis. The full weight of its severity became devastatingly clear in January 2016, following biopsy surgery, when we were informed it was a Stage 4 tumour and that his time was tragically limited.
What followed was a testament to Wayne's incredible strength. He endured six weeks of intense radiotherapy and six months of chemotherapy, a regimen that remarkably stabilised the tumour for six years. During this precious time, his condition was diligently monitored, initially at three-monthly intervals, then every six months.
The Fight Continues
Life, however, threw another immense challenge in February 2023, requiring Wayne to restart a further six months of treatment. This again brought a period of stability for another six months. Yet, profound grief struck our family in November 2023 when we lost our mum.
The new year brought renewed devastation. By January 2024, the tumour was growing aggressively once more. Wayne embarked on another six-month course of chemotherapy, but a scan just three months in revealed it was tragically ineffective. A further form of chemotherapy was offered, but a subsequent scan three months later confirmed that, too, was not working. On 7th March this year, we received the most heartbreaking news: there are no further treatment options available.
Our Personal Mission
This fight is incredibly personal. It's just myself and Wayne as siblings. My son, Calem, is 25, and my daughter, Laila, is 21. Wayne's daughter, Shelby, and her mother, Stacey, along with Stacey's two elder daughters who have children of their own, are also incredibly close to Wayne and integral to our family's journey. Wayne, who will bravely turn 40 this November, exemplifies the vibrant lives impacted by this cruel disease.
The Wayne Browne Charity exists to ensure that no other family faces such limited options. This profound personal experience fuels our dedication to elevate brain cancer on the medical research agenda, advocating for the critical funding needed to discover new treatments and, ultimately, a cure. We are fighting for Wayne, and for every individual and family touched by brain cancer, so that hope can truly triumph over heartbreak.