Three years after the tragic loss of Adam Stimpson to a brain tumour, the Wedmore community continues to come together to celebrate his life and support vital research.
Awareness Fest, the annual music event held in Adam’s honor at The George Inn, Wedmore, will take place for the third consecutive year on June 13. Adam, who was just 20 years old and studying aeronautical engineering at Swansea University, was diagnosed with a highly aggressive brain tumour in December 2022 and passed away in May 2023, less than six months later.
Since his passing, Adam’s family, friends, and supporters have raised over £73,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity, channeling their grief into meaningful action. His closest friends have been instrumental in these efforts: 17 local friends completed the 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge, while his Swansea University peers have traveled to Wedmore to support events such as the Target Fitness Gym Challenge and Awareness Fest. They have also participated three times in the charity’s twilight walk in London, all in Adam’s memory.
This year’s Awareness Fest at The George Inn promises an exciting lineup with afternoon and evening live music, a live auction, and a raffle featuring fantastic prizes. Attendees can enjoy a delicious BBQ prepared by The George Inn’s team, including burgers, hot dogs, and Slice One pizza.
The fundraising momentum continues to grow yearly, a testament to the remarkable impact Adam had on those around him. Adam’s father, Garry, has hosted two successful charity golf days, and his sister, Debs, achieved an incredible milestone by completing the 2026 London Marathon in his honor.
The overwhelming community support across all these events is a powerful tribute to Adam and plays a crucial role in raising awareness and funds for high-grade brain tumour research.
Adam’s mother, Annette Stimpson, shared, “The steadfast support from Adam’s friends, my daughter Debs, and the entire community has been truly overwhelming. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. We struggled to get an early diagnosis for Adam, which is why raising awareness of the signs and symptoms, as well as funding research, means so much to us. We hope the funds raised in Adam’s name will help improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment for others facing this terrible disease.”
Stuart Kerley, owner of The George Inn, said, “We are proud to host Awareness Fest once again. The event grows every year, and it’s incredibly heartwarming to see Adam’s family, friends, and the local community unite for such an important cause.”
Stacey Vincent from The Brain Tumour Charity’s community fundraising team added, “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Adam’s family and friends for their tireless dedication to Awareness Fest. It’s through the passion and commitment of people like Annette, Garry, and their family that we can hope to improve survival rates and bring hope to the thousands diagnosed with brain tumours each year.”
Tickets for the event on Saturday, June 13, are available now.
In the UK, 34 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every day. Despite this, survival rates have seen little improvement in the last 40 years compared to other cancers. Investment in brain tumour research remains disproportionately low, and diagnosis often takes too long.
The Brain Tumour Charity funds a broad range of research initiatives across the UK and internationally, aiming to deepen understanding of brain tumours, develop better diagnostic tools, and discover new treatments. The charity also provides comprehensive support services, including a helpline, free counseling, and specialized assistance for young people and their families.
Fundraising efforts spearheaded by families like Adam Stimpson’s have a profound impact in the fight against this devastating disease.
Key facts about brain tumours:
- Malignant brain tumours are the leading cancer cause of death among people under 40 in the UK.
- Approximately 5,300 people die from brain tumours each year.
- Only 12% of adults diagnosed with brain cancer survive beyond five years.
- Merely 3.2% of the £700 million cancer research funding in 2019/20 was allocated to brain tumour research.