The mother of a boy who touched the nation before he died of a brain tumour aged 16, has been protesting outside the Department of Health in Westminster calling for action to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours, meningitis and sepsis in children.


Sacha Langton-Gilks from Fontmell Magna has led the HeadSmart Campaign for a decade, a role she took while her beloved son David, known as DD, was being treated for a Medulloblastoma tumour, which he was diagnosed with aged 11. He died in 2012 having been affected by all three conditions.

Sacha said: “Early diagnosis of these killer diseases can save children’s lives and prevents horrendous disabilities, both mental and physical. Early diagnosis for DD would have saved him ten operations.”

Sacha is campaigning to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours, which cause about 25 child deaths in the UK every month. In 2019 Sacha and her MP Simon Hoare received a letter from the former Public Health Minister Steve Brine, who agreed to help the campaign. But Mr Brine resigned before fulfilling his promise. Current Public Health Minister Jo Churchill has apologised for the lack of action, but has not yet agreed to meet Sacha.

Sacha said: “I have recently been contacted by a family whose little child died of a brain tumour on Christmas Eve. They had taken their child to their GP and paediatrician for most of the year without a diagnosis. They had never heard of the HeadSmart campaign and neither had their MP. This just wrecks me and this is why I am no longer prepared to wait any longer. After recess I would love Simon Hoare MP to find a reply on his desk from the Public Health Minister agreeing to a meeting.”

Sacha will be making the journey to London every week until her voice is heard.

“I will be standing on the pavement outside the Department of Health to communicate the signs and symptoms of these awful diseases because the NHS and health bodies have never systematically done so, not even during brain tumour awareness month for HeadSmart. When I found the HeadSmart symptoms card before my son died, it made me feel physically sick because if I had known the warning signs DD would have received an earlier diagnosis. This awareness must come from our national health institutions. I’m hoping the department might prioritise children and young people.”

Symptoms of brain tumours for children include:

• Persistent or recurrent headache
• Balance or co-ordination problems
• Recurrent vomiting
• Abnormal eye movements
• Blurred or loss of vision
• Behaviour change
• Fits or seizures
• Abnormal head position

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.