New research fund launched in memory of Fleet 16-year-old who died from rare brain tumour
The Samantha Dickson Fund will look into high-grade gliomas
The parents of a 16-year-old girl from Fleet who died after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour have launched a special fund in her name.
Samantha Dickson's legacy already includes what is now known as The Brain Tumour Charity, started by her mum Angela and dad Neil following her death in 1996 - just days before her 17th birthday.
The Samantha Dickson Fund has been created to research high-grade gliomas, the type of brain tumour that Samantha was diagnosed with.
Angela said: “When we started the charity, we raised money for research into adult and childhood brain tumours in general.
“At that stage it was impossible to believe that in our lifetime we could get a new treatment for Samantha’s tumour type.
“Due to the progress made this has now changed and it would be a great tribute to her if we can achieve this over the next five years.”
She added: “If the fund is as successful as our earlier fund-raising, we hope to set up a Paediatric High-Grade Glioma Centre in Europe with strategic International links. This would be based on the charity’s Paediatric Low-Grade Glioma Centre in Heidelberg, Germany.
“Samantha had an incredible zest for life. She was a bright, lively, happy, fun-loving girl, who enjoyed school, music, drama, sports, badminton, netball, lacrosse, swimming, ballet, modern & tap dancing, travel and skiing. She played the flute and piano and was a dedicated scholar, working for distinction in all her exams.
“The Samantha Dickson Fund, will make sure that Samantha’s name will never be lost.”
Find out more about The Brain Tumour Charity and The Samantha Dickson Fund.