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Ipswich mother reflects on life-changing diagnosis for Brain Tumour Awareness Month

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March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month, and for Hayley from Ipswich, it’s a reminder of the day she was told her 16-month-old daughter had an Ependymoma brain tumour—news that would leave Camille facing years of treatment and ongoing struggles with anxiety.

Now 17, Camille’s life has been shaped by that journey, the uncertainty, and the support of Tom’s Trust.

The diagnosis that changed everything

Hayley remembers the moment with great clarity.

“When we were first told that there was a large mass in Camille’s brain, it just changed our lives forever,” she says. “Nobody even mentioned the word ‘cancer’. At first, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s fine, we’ll get it removed,’ but then slowly the reality sunk in.”

That reality meant two years of gruelling treatment—high-dose chemotherapy, three brain surgeries, and aggressive radiotherapy. But the impact wasn’t just physical. Camille struggled with severe anxiety, finding it difficult to trust anyone outside her family, and hospital visits became a source of deep distress.

“She was just a baby,” Hayley recalls. “She couldn’t process why this was happening to her, but she felt it. The fear, the pain, the disruption to her life—it all had a lasting effect.”

Camille giving a thumbs-up during a hospital visit.
Camille giving a thumbs-up during a hospital visit.Tom's TrustTom's Trust

A lifeline in Tom’s Trust

At the time of Camille’s diagnosis, psychological support for families going through childhood cancer was almost non-existent.

That’s when Tom’s Trust stepped in.

The charity provided dedicated mental health support to Camille and her family, helping her cope with medical procedures and navigate the long-term emotional effects of her illness. Their clinical psychologists worked closely with Camille, using cognitive behavioural therapy to help her process trauma, while also supporting Hayley through the emotional rollercoaster of having a seriously ill child.

“The support from Tom’s Trust has been outstanding,” says Hayley. “Even now, 16 years later, we know we can pick up the phone, and they’ll be there to help. Having that continuity means everything.”

Ipswich families need this support

Every year, around 500 children in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour, and the reality is that many families in Ipswich and Suffolk will face the same fears and uncertainties that Hayley did. Brain tumours remain the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and young adults, and many survivors live with lifelong challenges. Without charities like Tom’s Trust, these families would have to navigate their child’s diagnosis alone.

“You never expect this to happen to your child,” says Hayley. “But when it does, you need all the support you can get. I don’t know where we’d be without Tom’s Trust.”

How you can help

Brain Tumour Awareness Month is not just about remembering the hardships—it’s about ensuring that no family has to go through this alone.

Tom’s Trust continues to support children in Ipswich and across the UK, providing life-changing mental health care when families need it most. To learn more or support their work, visit www.tomstrust.org.uk.

For families in Ipswich and beyond, this support is vital. And as Hayley says, “When it feels like everything is falling apart, having someone to turn to makes all the difference.”

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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Police appeal after golf ball attack damages historic Landguard Fort

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Over 40 golf balls were driven at Felixstowe's Landguard Fort, causing mortar damage to the historic structure's outer wall.

Why it matters: The damage constitutes an offence under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, which protects historically significant sites.

Inside the Landguard Fort in Felixstowe
Inside the Landguard Fort in FelixstoweGetty Images

The details: Suffolk Police reported that the incident took place between 17:00 on Monday, 10 March and 09:00 on Tuesday, 11 March.

The golf balls were driven from a grass mound outside the fort on Point View Road, with some projectiles clearing the outer wall and landing in the inner parade area.

What's next: Officers are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about those responsible to come forward.

How to help: Contact Suffolk Police quoting crime reference 37/13803/25 via:

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their online form.

The bottom line: This act of vandalism has caused damage to one of Felixstowe's most important historic landmarks, which is protected by national legislation.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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