A GRIEVING mother from west Dorset who lost her only son to a brain tumour has spoken out about the "chronic" underfunding of those trying to fight the disease.

Former Beaminster School pupil Stephen Dewar, began to have seizures and, after 10 months of misdiagnosis, was found to have a brain tumour, aged 25. His mother, Pauline, had tried to convince doctors to take her concerns about Stephen’s health seriously, having been told by a GP that "25-year-olds don’t get brain tumours".

Finally diagnosed, Stephen underwent a craniotomy as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but two years later his stunned family found themselves saying goodbye to him.

Stephen, who became a carpenter, died six years ago tomorrow (11).

For the first time, Pauline, who along with her husband Malcolm, used to run the Red Lion Hotel in Beaminster, is telling Stephen’s story. Pauline is working with the national charity Brain Tumour Research to highlight the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this disease. She has chosen to speak out during March, Brain Tumour Awareness Month, and is urging people to take part in the UK-wide fundraising event, Wear A Hat Day on Friday, March 31.

Pauline said: “Steve was admitted to Poole Hospital for the last time on February 28, where they told us he only had about ten days - it was completely unbearable.

"I was kicking myself for not pushing for him to have a scan when he had the first seizure playing football. I felt and still feel that if he had been diagnosed ten months earlier the tumour may have been a lot smaller and Stephen would have lived longer."

She added: "I was dumb-struck when the GP rang to say he was sorry Stephen had passed away and then went on to say he had had another person die of a brain tumour the previous week. It felt so matter of fact, so callous, especially recalling how dismissive he had been of my fears that my son had an undiagnosed brain tumour.

“I cannot stand by without doing all I can to change this chronic underfunding into brain tumour research. Even though it’s too late for him, I want Stephen’s legacy to help find a cure for this deadly disease.”

Pauline is campaigning to raise awareness of brain tumours. Along with Brain Tumour Research, she is lobbying the government and larger cancer charities to see the national spend increased to £30 million to £35 million a year, in line with other cancers such as breast and leukaemia.

For more information, visit wearahatday.org