Ashley and Stine Giles launch the Giles’ Trust
QEHB Charity is delighted to be supporting cricketer Ashley Giles and his wife Stine, as they raise money for brain tumour research.
In 2006 Ashley had to rush back from the Ashes in Australia, where he had been part of the England Team, to be with his wife, Stine, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a cricket ball.
Stine said: “When I found out I had a brain tumour I was shocked, I just couldn’t believe it.
“I had suffered headaches for a while, often waking in the early hours to take painkillers, but because they eased as soon as I got out of bed and didn’t disrupt my daily routine I didn’t think anything of it, and neither did my doctors. I thought it was just stress.”
After successful removal of the tumour and further treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the couple, who have two children, were devastated when in 2012 two more tumours were discovered.
Ashley said: “The tumours required immediate attention. It was heart-breaking to be back in that dreadful situation again. We couldn’t believe it was happening to us.”
Although hope seemed lost, Professor Cruickshank, a neurosurgeon at the QE who operated on Stine’s first tumour, threw the couple a lifeline when he suggested a new treatment to remove the tumours. The treatment was so new that Stine was one of the first people in the UK to go through it.
She said: “It was a real lifeline. It gave us hope. It was then, after experiencing first-hand how important research and new treatments are, that I promised myself I would help raise money to fund brain tumour research in the future if the treatment was successful.”
Thankfully Stine’s pioneering treatment was a success and, although she continues to have regular checks and scans, she is back enjoying life with her family, and is now committed to fulfilling the promise she made to support research into brain tumours.
She said: “I’m so thankful this treatment was available for me, and Ashley and I want to do all we can to ensure it is there for more people in the future.
“The Giles’ Trust is a fund within QEHB Charity that has been set up to support world class brain tumour research in Birmingham, under the guidance of my fantastic surgeon Professor Cruickshank.”
Building on the success of her first fundraising event last year, which saw guests enjoy an Indian Summer Night themed party and raised over £30,000, Stine is currently working on another fundraiser for 2015 – an 80s night to be held at Edgbaston Stadium.
The event, which is sponsored by Pertemps with a drinks reception sponsored by The Business Desk, will take place in October and will also be the official launch of the Giles’ Trust.
Mike Hammond, Chief Executive at QEHB Charity, said: “We are incredibly humbled by Ashley and Stine’s journey and are delighted to be supporting them as they raise money to help fund vital brain tumour research here in Birmingham.
“We have no doubts that the event in October will be a huge success, and we look forward to supporting them as they officially launch the Giles’ Trust.”
