Northampton grandma given months left to live releases uplifting dance video in bid to raise vital funds

Mary Shumba, 60, has launched a video of herself dancing in support of the Brain Tumour Research charity and has already raised more than £2,000.

Along with her daughter Muka, 30, Mary’s video shows her dancing The Jerusalema – a dance craze which originated in February 2020, which aimed to bring hope from Africa to the world during the coronavirus pandemic.

The former deputy nurse manager in acquired brain injury at St Andrew’s Hospital – before she had to retire due to ill health – said she loves dancing and wanted to celebrate her 60th birthday.

She said: “I love dancing at parties or even by myself, it’s such a great form of exercise, and The Jerusalema is such a happy song and so uplifting during these difficult times.

"I wanted to do something to mark turning 60 and to celebrate completing my chemotherapy. I hope my video brings joy to lots of people and inspires donations to help find a cure for the thousands diagnosed with a brain tumour every year.”

Mary said she first started experiencing facial pain back in March 2019. Her GP diagnosed her with inflamed and infected sinuses gave Mary a number of prescriptions for antibiotics which failed to sort the problem.

“I then began to notice my normally sharp judgement was becoming cloudy and that I was doing unusual things like leaving the fridge door open. I started to worry I was suffering early onset dementia," Mary said.

In November 2019, Mary was referred for an MRI scan which revealed she had a six centimetre-long mass in her brain. A biopsy revealed the tumour was a glioblastoma multiforme.

She said: “I discovered the treatment options available to me on the NHS hadn’t changed for decades and was told I had a survival prognosis of 12 to 15 months, which I didn’t find helpful. I am a committed Christian and am determined to stay positive.

“I am really grateful to everyone who has donated, and humbled to have raised more than £2,000 already. This means so much to me and others diagnosed with a brain tumour.”

Mary’s daughter Muka, who lives with her mum, said: “It was such a shock when Mum was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. She has always been very family-oriented and such an inspiration to my sister Chipo, brother Zee and me.

"Mum and I look after two-year-old Maya-Rose, Zee’s daughter, twice a week and that gives Mum her regular ‘grandma jog’ when she takes Maya Rose out for a walk and ends up running after her.”

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Mary’s story reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age.

“We are so grateful to Mary for producing her Dance to a Cure video. Like so many of our fantastic fundraisers, she hasn’t let lockdown get in the way of her efforts and we’re sure she will inspire lots of people to donate.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

According to Brain Tumour Research, which is looking for parity of funding with other cancers such as leukaemia, breast and prostate:

More children and adults under the age of 40 die of a brain tumour than any other cancer

The five-year survival rate for breast and prostate is over 70%, leukaemia over 40%, yet for brain tumours it is just 12%

A charity spokesman said that since national cancer spend records began in 2002, £680 million has been invested in breast cancer, yet only £96 million in brain tumours – a difference of £35 million a year over 17 years.

To donate to Mary’s fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/muka-nyakabau