Oli's Story

Oli graduated from Cambridge University in 2013. He was 22 and just starting out in life with his dream job when he had a seizure out of the blue in August 2014. Follow up tests resulted in Oli being diagnosed in December 2014 with Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive and lethal form of adult brain cancer. Oli was given the devastating prognosis of 12 months left to live.

Oli was not one to be beaten and he was determined to live life to the very full and defy all the odds. He underwent 14 months of gruelling chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Thanks to his fighting spirit, can-do mind-set and an incredible support base, by December 2015, Oli’s scans were clear: a truly exceptional feat.

One month after finishing treatment, Oli ran the London Marathon in under 4 hours raising £60,000 for research into brain tumours. Oli commented at the time, ‘When you are told you might not be around for much longer, it changes things. I wanted to run to prove to myself that I'm very much alive and I can do it’.

The following day Oli returned to work full time. All subsequent scans showed no evidence of disease thanks to the treatment he had received and life returned to normal. Oli travelled the world, spent time with his friends and family and in December 2017 he proposed to his girlfriend, Gigi.

A month after their engagement, scans revealed that the tumour had returned. Oli underwent brain surgery to remove the affected tumour and consequently lost his peripheral vision. He restarted a course of chemotherapy. With unwavering defiance, Oli continued to run half marathons before work. Devastatingly, the tumour returned again in July 2018. Oli and Gigi brought their wedding forward and married in October 2018, while embarking on an intense treatment plan.

Oli never once complained or asked, ‘why me?’. To face such uncertainty and still maintain the courage to support those around him was remarkable, while his humility in both accepting and defying the monumental challenge was truly stirring. Oli's contagious positivity and strength in character was transmissible onto all those around him. Oli truly put life and living into a context that we can learn from.

In January 2019, Oli passed away surrounded by so much love at home just 10 days before his 27th birthday, with his wife, parents and sister by his side. He had spent the afternoon watching the Northampton Saints' rugby game, Oli's home team.

Just days before he had told his family, ‘I'm so lucky. I have a wonderful life’.

To know Oli was a privilege. He was sincere in his fierce loyalty and both wickedly and unforgivingly funny, often within moments of one another. He left a little of his heart with everyone that knew him and he touched the hearts of all those he met.

Oli's legacy lives on in each of us. He will never be forgotten and together we will fight forever for Oli to change the outcome of a Glioblastoma Multiforme diagnosis.