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The team
Katie Sheen - Founder
It never ceases to amaze me how my life changed direction on a promise which I made to my younger sister, Emma, on a day early in 2001.
Her husband Paul had been diagnosed with an astrocytoma grade II in late November/early December 2000, when Emma was just four months pregnant with their second child. Since then I had spent many hours both at their home (over 2 hours drive away) and in hospital with them, whilst Paul underwent a biopsy with neurosurgeon Mr.Robert Bradford at the Royal Free Hospital in London. My spare time was spent researching the internet for more information - but it was in its infancy in those days and my efforts pretty much drew a blank.
Thankfully I was able to network through medical friends and finally found Dr.Jeremy Rees at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, the only neurologist I found who had a specialist interest in low-grade gliomas (LGGs). Paul immediately transferred to a shared care arrangement between the two medical professionals, drawn in part by the fact that Dr.Rees was trying to secure funding for a LGG research project; there were no others underway in the UK at the time. When Emma discovered that his funding bid had been unsuccessful, she phoned me in tears to say that their one glimmer of hope had gone. I immediately replied that we would simply raise the money ourselves - and so Astro Fund was born.
I started my working life as a Production Assistant for a freelance TV commercials Producer in London in the 1980s, before transferring to BBC Television in Manchester as a Researcher. Over the next five years I worked on a wide variety of Children's Programmes and became part of a BAFTA award winning production team for the documentary series "Ipso Facto", gradually working my way up to become a Director / Assistant Producer.
Since Astro Fund was founded in April 2001, I have worked on behalf of those affected by low-grade brain tumours. Initially this was as a volunteer, but from July 2005 to April 2009 I also worked as a salaried Patient Support worker for Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT). Following my redundancy, I have had to concentrate on my career as a Nutritional Therapist, but continue to lead Astro Fund as a volunteer. You can find out more about my nutrition work at www.soulnutrition.co.uk
Mary Burton - Treasurer
I am married to Robbie and live in North West Norfolk in Holme-next-the-Sea where we run a small bed and breakfast business from home.
I am Norfolk born and bred although have ventured out of the county to live and work over the years in a variety of office/accounts based posts. I first moved to Holme in 1987 to take over the running of the village shop/post office. After 5 years' enjoyable but hard work, this was sold and I worked at Hunstanton Post Office for the next 10 years.
I am a listening volunteer with King’s Lynn Samaritans and have also held the post of Treasurer for the last five years.
I first became involved with Astro Fund when I saw an article in the local paper about a sponsored walk being organised at Holkham Hall. Previous to this, in January 2007, my sister's younger daughter, Gemma Barrett, was diagnosed with a low grade brain tumour. This spurred us on to help raise as much cash as we could to help fund research to hopefully, in the future, find new effective treatments.
Tragically, Gemma passed away peacefully on 17th November 2010. She dealt with her illness with cheerfulness and great spirit and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be remembered always with much love and admiration.
Christine Forecast - Secretary
I have been married to Trevor for 46 years and we have two daughters, Katie and Emma. When Emma's husband Paul was diagnosed with a LGG in 2000 we, as a family, became involved with raising money for research into LGGs and providing support and hope for patients, carers and their families through Astro Fund.
I trained as an occupational therapist and worked in psychiatric hospitals until Katie was born. We then went into the hotel business and had two hotels over the years, retiring in 1999. I was a magistrate from 1988 until 2001 until Emma and Paul needed help as his tumour progressed, because their children were so young. We spent 5 years supporting their family until Pauls' death in March 2006, and since then have continued to support Emma but also have fun rallying an old car, gardening, walking, socialising and keeping up with the grandchildren. I also help Trevor with his work as Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in West Norfolk.
Fund raising for Astro Fund has taken up time too and we look forward to continuing our support, in the hope that other families will find their brain tumour journeys easier than we did over 8 years ago.
Linda Rickford
I am married to Barry and we live in Cousldon in Surrey. I worked for many years at BBC Television in London and then for 25 years for Croydon Council, running a special needs playgroup for 8 years and then helping families in the community cope with the challenging behaviour of their young children – like ‘Supernanny’ on the TV (only not so well paid!).
Barry and I are now both retired. This is just as well, as almost at the moment of Barry’s retirement our son David, aged 28, having already recovered from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, was diagnosed with a brain tumour and our world fell apart - again. After David’s emergency surgery he needed full time, hands on care for several months. It was a most difficult time, and when David was discharged from the hospital we felt quite alone and abandoned. Barry and I were fortunate that we were both able to be at home to support him, and each other. I looked for help, information and support online and I stumbled across the Astro Fund website and joined the support group – one of the best things I could have done.
I feel passionate about the need to raise funds for vital research projects into low grade gliomas. Also, David was misdiagnosed by our GP and by no less than 9 hospital doctors, and this only served to reinforce my passion about raising awareness and improving training programmes for the medical profession. I think it is so important that those affected by brain tumours, be they patient, carer, parent, or spouse, should have a forum where they can seek support and information – and Astro Fund supplies that forum.
Martin Segal
I am a security professional who has worked in the security industry for the last fifteen years, and currently have the role of a senior manager in a large American owned Facilities Management company.
In 2001 my wife Stacey was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma. She was very brave and an inspiration to many people, including me. Tragically she died in 2006 and is survived by her beautiful son, who is now 8 years old, and me. Stacey and I were committed to living full and exciting lives together and with our son, which we achieved if only for a very short time.
During the first year of her diagnosis we were put in touch with Katie by Dr Jeremy Rees of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and we both offered to help her raise funds for Astro Fund. This is something that I have been doing ever since. I do not know of a worthier cause.
Ironically, sadly, and statistically highly improbably, my brother Raymond died of the very same type of tumor in 2002. He is survived by his wife and two young sons. You always hear these sorts of stories and never believe they will happen to you, well they did happen to me. I am therefore totally committed to raising funds for the excellent support work that Astro Fund provides to families going through these challenging experiences, and to assist in the ongoing research to find a cure for these types of tumours.