Three years after the tragic loss of Adam Stimpson to a brain tumour, the Wedmore community continues to come together in heartfelt remembrance. Awareness Fest, an annual music and fundraising event held at The George Inn in Wedmore, returns for its third year on June 13, celebrating the life of the beloved 20-year-old and supporting vital brain tumour research.
Adam, a second-year aeronautical engineering student at Swansea University, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in December 2022 and sadly passed away just six months later, in May 2023. Since his passing, Adam’s family, friends, and supporters have raised more than £73,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity, transforming grief into powerful, positive action.
Central to this effort have been Adam’s closest friends, who have participated in demanding challenges such as the 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge. His Swansea University friends have also shown immense dedication, traveling to Wedmore to take part in the Target Fitness Gym Challenge and Awareness Fest. They have even completed the charity’s twilight walk in London three times in Adam’s memory.
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This year’s Awareness Fest promises an exciting day of live music, a lively auction, and a raffle featuring fantastic prizes. Attendees can enjoy a delicious BBQ curated by The George Inn team, offering burgers, hot dogs, and Slice One pizza.
Fundraising efforts continue to grow, reflecting the remarkable impact Adam had on those around him. Adam’s father, Garry Stimpson, has hosted two charity golf days, while his sister, Debs, marked a significant milestone by completing the 2026 London Marathon in his honour.
The community’s unwavering support across these events is a moving tribute, raising crucial awareness and funding for research into high-grade brain tumours. Adam’s mother, Annette Stimpson, shares: “Losing a child is every mother’s worst nightmare. We struggled to get an early diagnosis for Adam, so raising awareness about the signs and symptoms, as well as funding research, is deeply important to us. We hope that the funds raised in Adam’s name will help lead to better understanding, earlier diagnosis, and improved treatments for others facing this devastating disease.”
Stuart Kerley, owner of The George Inn, adds: “We are honoured to host Awareness Fest again. Each year, it grows bigger and it’s truly heartwarming to see the community, Adam’s friends, and his family unite for such a meaningful cause.”
Stacey Vincent from The Brain Tumour Charity’s community fundraising team echoes this gratitude: “Thanks to Adam’s family and friends, Awareness Fest continues to inspire hope and support. Their dedication is critical to changing the outlook for those diagnosed with brain tumours every year.”
Every day, 34 people in the UK receive a brain tumour diagnosis. Despite this, survival rates have seen little improvement over the past 40 years compared to other cancers, research funding remains low, and delays in diagnosis are common. The Brain Tumour Charity supports cutting-edge research across the UK and internationally to better understand brain tumours, innovate diagnostic methods, and discover new treatments. It also provides vital support services including helplines, counselling, and specialised help for young patients and their families.
Through the ongoing efforts of families like the Stimpsons, there is hope for a future with improved outcomes for brain tumour patients.
About brain tumours:
• Malignant brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer death among people under 40 in the UK
• Around 5,300 people die from brain tumours annually
• Only 12% of adults diagnosed survive beyond five years
• Just 3.2% of UK cancer research funding in 2019/20 was allocated to brain tumour research