Man who had pins and needles now doesn't know how long he has to live

Man who had pins and needles now doesn't know how long he has to live Scott Walker, 42, was diagnosed at the start of this year A man whose pins and needles were initially thought to be caused by a shoulder injury now faces an uncertain future. Scott Walker, 42, a sign writer from Grimsby, began experiencing tingling and weakness in his arm in 2024. As his symptoms worsened and spread to his leg, he returned to his GP and, in January 2026, an MRI at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital revealed a brain tumour. Now Scott’s wife, Kerry, and stepdaughter, Molly, are turning to fundraising, signing up for the flagship Walk of Hope at Chatsworth on Saturday, September 26, to raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research – the only national charity focused on finding a cure for all types of brain tumours. Molly, 22, said: “Scott has been part of our family for 10 years and he’s like a bonus dad to me. He’s amazing and is always there when I need him. He’s such a friendly person, he loves his family and friends, he’s football mad and loves to travel. “Although we knew something wasn’t right, the diagnosis came as a complete shock. We’d watched him gradually lose more function and knew it had to be something more than an injury, but we never expected this.” Scott was admitted to hospital for further tests, but due to its critical location in the brain stem, a biopsy was not considered possible. A more powerful MRI at Hull Royal Infirmary indicated a low-grade glioma. Scott was due to begin six weeks of radiotherapy but, following his radiotherapy planning scan, a further MRI showed the tumour was more widespread through the surrounding tissue than initially thought. His medical team decided to treat it as a grade 4 midline glioma , a more aggressive form of brain tumour. “It’s been difficult to come to terms with because Scott’s diagnosis is based on his scans alone,” Molly said. “A biopsy isn’t possible because of the tumour’s location, so doctors can’t be certain of its grade, only how it is behaving. “They’re treating it for the worst but hoping for the best. The uncertainty about what the future holds has actually been harder to come to terms with than the original brain tumour diagnosis.” Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer. Alongside radiotherapy, Scott began taking oral chemotherapy daily. He completed this phase of treatment in mid-June 2026 and is now awaiting a follow-up MRI before continuing with six further cycles of chemotherapy. Scott has since had to give up his driving licence and stop working as his mobility and weakness in his arm have worsened. Molly said: “Simple things most of us do without thinking, like washing, getting dressed and eating, are now much more difficult for Scott. But he is such a strong and resilient person and takes every day as it comes. After everything he has been through over the last seven months, he still remains positive despite us living with so much uncertainty.” In support of Scott and Brain Tumour Research, Molly and Kerry initially set themselves a fundraising target of £200 for the 5km Walk of Hope in Chatsworth, which they surpassed within just 24 hours. They are now aiming for £500 and are using social media to raise awareness of the urgent need for more investment in research. Television, radio and stage star and Brain Tumour Research patron Debbie McGee will lead walkers at the flagship event, marking 10 years since she lost her husband, magician Paul Daniels, to an aggressive brain tumour. At the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham, scientists are using artificial intelligence, advanced brain imaging and genomic techniques to better understand recurrence in high-grade brain tumours and accelerate progress towards improved treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Molly said: “After Scott’s diagnosis and learning more about brain tumours, I was shocked to learn that brain cancer is the leading cancer killer of people under 40 yet receives so little national funding towards treatments. “Because of their location, treatment options for brain stem gliomas are limited and surgery is rarely an option. Seeing first-hand how devastating brain tumours can be and how few treatment options there are makes raising money for research even more important. We want to help give hope to other patients and families going through this.” “Taking part at Chatsworth will give us a sense of accomplishment knowing we’re helping to raise awareness and vital funds. We’ll also be surrounded by other people in the same situation, all working together for the same cause and purpose." Katrina Jones, head of community and digital fundraising at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Molly and Kerry for taking on our Walk of Hope and turning what has been such a difficult time for their family into something positive. Scott’s story is a powerful reminder of the devastating impact a brain tumour can have, not only on the person diagnosed but on everyone around them. "One in three people knows someone affected by a brain tumour and nearly 13,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year. It’s thanks to supporters like Molly and Kerry, who raise vital funds and awareness, that we can continue to invest in the research needed to improve treatment options, campaign for change and, ultimately, find a cure.” Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and 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 the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £45 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia. To support Molly and Kerry’s fundraising, visit their JustGiving page. Sign up for the Walk of Hope at Chatsworth on Saturday, September 26, via this page. Registration closes on September 18.