Former soldier from Devon diagnosed with a brain tumour star jumping to help find a cure
Dan Mason is taking part in a fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research
An army veteran from Devon is preparing to jump his way back to fitness when he takes part in a brand-new fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research.
Dad-of-two Dan Mason, of Ivybridge, has signed up to take part in the charity’s 100 Star Jumps a Day in November challenge, inspired by his own experience of being diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain tumour.
The 36-year-old former Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) physical training instructor (PTI) was 22 when, in January 2007, an MRI scan revealed he had a brain tumour.
His diagnosis came three years after the former corporal began experiencing tingling sensations and shortness of breath, which turned out to be seizures. His tumour, a grade 2 pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), is very rare.
In July 2008, Dan suffered a brain haemorrhage and the following year he underwent a gruelling course of radiotherapy.
Dan, who now works at the Cabinet Office in London, said: "I tried to keep my life as normal as possible throughout the treatment.
"I was based at Marchwood, near Southampton at the time, working with 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RLC and I continued going to work and training in the gym.
"Keeping fit and working hard gave me a lot of purpose and distracted me from my inevitable worries.
“However, the treatment eventually caught up with me and when my hair started to fall out, I knew I needed to rest and take some time out. I felt extremely tired and drained – I didn’t want to move from the sofa.
"On top of the radiotherapy, the doctors were still trying to find the most effective combination of drugs for my acquired epilepsy and this also took its toll on me physically."
Dan Mason
Dan, who served 12 years in the British Army, including a six-month operational tour in Iraq, was medically-discharged from the military in 2014, something he struggled to come to terms with.
He said: "The army was my life. My wife Roz served too and we were both dedicated to our service.
"Before I was discharged, I received two certificates of meritorious service, which I am very proud of, but I always expected to have a much longer career in the Forces and to move up the ranks."
Dan Mason
Having forged a successful new career within the Cabinet Office, Dan is now a delivery and engagement lead on the Going Forward Into Employment scheme.
The scheme supports different cohorts of people that may face employment barriers, helping to provide opportunities for them to attain a role within the Civil Service.
As a veteran, Dan is running the scheme which specifically supports service leavers, veterans and military spouses into new civil service careers.
Dan has bounced back from the upheaval caused by his diagnosis and happily, his tumour remains stable.
He said: "I have annual scans, which continue to give positive results and I haven’t had to have any further treatment. I’ve recently had some issues with my gait but tests have shown it’s not oncology-related, so the neurology team are looking into the cause.
"My fitness has suffered a lot since leaving the army and that’s one of the reasons I’ve signed up to take part in the 100 Star Jumps challenge.
"However, the competitive soldier in me wanted to go one better, so I’ve decided to do 240 star jumps a day.
"There are more than 120 different types of brain tumour, so I’ve doubled that number and have set myself a fundraising target of £2,740 – the equivalent amount it costs to fund a day of research at one of the charity’s Centres of Excellence."
In September 2018, Dan did a lab tour at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth, which motivated him to want fundraise for the charity.
He said: "It was fantastic and insightful but also shocking to discover just how many young people are affected by this terrible illness.
"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. I’m really keen to do my bit to help improve these awful statistics."
To join Dan and hundreds of others who will be having fun and getting fit whilst raising funds to help find a cure for brain tumours, join the charity’s Facebook challenge group.
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.
The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.
To support Dan’s fundraising, visit www.facebook.com/donate/224211993025711.