THORNBURY charity Brain Tumour Support is to screen one woman's emotional message about how the charity helped her.

In a new short film made specially, and free of charge, for Brain Tumour Support, Jane Edwards from Bath speaks emotionally about how the charity helped her to rebuild her life following the devastating impact of a brain tumour diagnosis.

The four minute film will be shown for the first time online on Thursday (October 1) at 8pm.

It will head up the next stage of Brain Tumour Support's major appeal which was launched in May in response to the coronavirus crisis.

The charity, which has been based in Thornbury for the last 17 years, is facing a predicted 40% drop in income this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent impact on fundraising events and activities.

In the film, Jane Edwards speaks about how her life changed forever in 2013 after a visit to her optician resulted in the diagnosis of a brain tumour, a meningioma.

Although this type of tumour is termed ‘benign’ the impact on her life was profound.

First of all confronted by the shock and fear of the diagnosis, Jane then faced gruelling surgery and a long battle to cope again with everyday tasks and to return to work.

Particularly as a single mum looking after a young son, the challenges were daunting.

"But everything changed when I found my local Brain Tumour Support Group," she said.

"Everyone talked about their fears so openly and honestly, it was amazing.”

Jane also received specialist counselling provided by charity Brain Tumour Support which helped her understand and come to terms with what she’d been through.

Jane's film is heading up the next stage of an appeal to help the charity which helped her so much.

In May, the Together We Are Stronger Appeal was launched as an urgent call to ensure the charity’s survival.

Founder and CEO, Tina Mitchell Skinner said: “Over the past 17 years Brain Tumour Support has grown to help more people year on year.

"This year we had exciting plans to further develop and extend our support services, and then the pandemic hit and our income plummeted.

“Thanks to a wonderful response from supporters and some very inventive socially-distanced fundraising we have indeed shown that ‘Together we are stronger’ and survived till now.

"However it’s been exceptionally difficult with over half our team furloughed and we have also had to let go of a number of staff and moved to a smaller office space whilst we assess the most efficient and cost

effective way forward.

"We are determined that the hard earned funds raised and donated by our supporters will go to help as many patients and families as possible.”

Brain Tumour Support is now focussed on bringing its team back together and rebuilding the much needed support services, adapted at present to follow socially distanced guidelines.

The short film of Jane’s story will lead the next stage of the charity’s appeal ‘Together we can rebuild’ and will be shown for the first time as a premier on the Brain Tumour Support Facebook page at

8pm on Thursday October.

Jane said: “I hope that in telling my story I can help Brain Tumour Support continue to be there for so many others too.”

To see the film, find out how you can get involved or to make a donation to the Together We Are Stronger Appeal visit: braintumoursupport.co.uk/appeal