Widow to skydive with husband's ashes for brother with terminal cancer

Jamie Marsden, 42, a dad-of-three from Great Harwood, was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligoastrocytoma after suffering a seizure in 2003 and has now been told his condition is terminal and there are no further treatment options available for him.

His older sister, Lindsay Charlson is completing a tandem skydive from 10,000ft when she takes part in the Brain Tumour Research charity’s Jump for Hope from Beccles Airfield today (June 10).

The 47-year-old’s motivation comes from her younger brother, Jamie who is receiving palliative care for the terminal brain tumour.

Lindsay Charlson will complete a skydive in honour of her younger brother who has a terminal brain tumour (Image: Brain Tumour)

Lindsay, who used to live in Whalley, said: “I didn’t know brain tumours existed until my brother fell ill with one. It’s too late to save his life but I want to do what I can to help advance research and give others more time, so they don’t have to suffer like we are. Every time I see Jamie, it just breaks my heart. I can’t imagine what he’s going through.

“Until you’re in the thick of this disease, you don’t realise how debilitating it is, or how it takes over the life, not just of the patient, but of everyone around them. The more I can raise to help find a cure, the better. I just feel so bad for everybody going through this.”

Since his diagnosis, Jamie, a former support worker in a NHS medium secure unit and retained firefighter from Great Harwood, has undergone a craniotomy, two debulking surgeries, internal radiotherapy treatment, high-dose radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but his tumour has continued to grow.

Lindsay said: “Since being told his tumour is terminal, Jamie has declined so quickly. He’s very stubborn and didn’t want to give into it, but he hasn’t had a choice. He hasn’t been able to walk properly or speak for months and is now receiving palliative care at home, with my parents doing everything they can to look after him.

“They care for him so attentively 24 hours a day seven days a week, washing and changing him twice daily as he has lost control of everything but the use of his left arm.

“I’m just praying he’s still with us when I do my jump on Saturday because I’ve arranged to have video and photos taken to show him.

 “Jamie has always been full of life. He’s the clever one and spent most of his younger years renovating cars and computers with friends. Before his brain tumour, he was just a typical young lad, and very mischievous when he wanted to be. I feel awful knowing he’s spent most of his adult life having to contend with this disease. It’s just not fair.”

Lindsay will also be taking some of her late husband, Edward’s, ashes with her. Edward died suddenly last year, aged 53, after sustaining a serious head injury during a fall.

Lindsay said: “Skydiving has been on my bucket list for years, so I’m both excited and nervous. I used to talk to Edward about it and know he would be all for me doing it. He wouldn’t have wanted to do one himself, but I’ve decided to take a little bit of him up with me anyway.

“He loved my brother to bits and I know he’s watching over us all right now. I’ll be thinking of him and my brother when I’m up there.”

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Jamie’s sad story is a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of brain tumours. They can affect anyone at any age and kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.

“We’re determined to change this but it’s only by working together we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure. We’re incredibly grateful to Lindsay for taking on this challenge for us and hope she has an enjoyable jump on Saturday.”

To support Lindsay’s fundraising, visit here.