"A Tragic Loss: Samuel Priestly's Story Brings Awareness to Low-Grade Brain Tumors"

Samuel Priestly, a 14-year-old soccer enthusiast, asked his mother, Sharon, if he had a brain tumor due to recurring headaches. The diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma, a low-grade childhood brain tumor, was confirmed in July 2018. Samuel underwent multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and proton beam therapy, but unfortunately, passed away at 18 in 2022. His family and soccer club, Mountsorrel Juniors, have honored his memory by creating the SP10 heart logo and starting the Samuel's Promise charity, which has raised over £50,000 for research into low-grade brain tumors.

Key Takeaways:

• Samuel Priestly was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma, a low-grade childhood brain tumor, in July 2018 at the age of 14.
• He underwent multiple surgeries, including an eight-hour operation at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
• Samuel received chemotherapy and proton beam therapy at the Christie in Manchester as part of his treatment.
• Despite his health struggles, Samuel maintained his passion for soccer and played for the Leicester City development side in the Midland Junior Premier League.
• His family and soccer club created the SP10 heart logo in his honor, which has been recognized worldwide.
• The Samuel's Promise charity was established to raise funds for research into low-grade brain tumors and has raised over £50,000 so far.
• Samuel's loved ones continue to honor his memory by leaving SP10 hearts in the sand on beaches worldwide.

Statistics:

• £50,000: Amount raised by Samuel's Promise charity for research into low-grade brain tumors.
• 2018: Year Samuel was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma.
• 14: Age at which Samuel was diagnosed.
• 18: Year Samuel passed away.
• 8 hours: Length of the initial surgical operation at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
• £50,000+ raised by Samuel's Promise charity.

Sources:

• Article in [newspaper name]
• Source: mum Sharon, quote in the article
• Source: Shanklin, [no date], article mentioning Samuel's Promise charity
• Source: [blog or website name], [no date], mentioning the SP10 heart logo and charity work