Concert to be held at Hard Rock Cafe in Glasgow in memory of dad-of-two who died from brain tumour

The event in November is being held to raise money for Brain Tumour Research after Craig Johnston, 34, from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, died from a glioblastoma brain tumour in November last year. 

Craig's dad Alan, who is from Glasgow, first realised something was wrong in July 2018 when Craig's wife Jill phoned him in the early hours of the morning. 

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Craig and his family [Brain Tumour Scotland] (Image: Brain Tumour Scotland)

The 63-year-old said: "Jill said that Craig was having a seizure while he was sleeping so I drove straight over to their house.

"When I arrived, paramedics were there and then took him to Darlington Memorial Hospital. 

"We had an MRI scan which revealed two little marks on his brain."

Craig Johnston [Brain Tumour Scotland] (Image: Brain Tumour Scotland)

Three weeks later, Craig, dad to four-year-old Milly and 10-year-old Ally, had surgery at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. 

Alan said: "The operation went really well, and when Craig woke up, he was joking with the porter. 

"He was a strong, fit lad, and he looked fine. 

"But two weeks later, we were told that Craig had a grade three astrocytoma.

"The news absolutely floored Craig, and we were all stunned, we just felt total despair."

In November of that year, Craig underwent radiotherapy and six months of chemotherapy. 

At the start of 2020, an MRI scan showed the tumour had grown so Craig had another operation to remove it, followed by six months of chemotherapy. 

Despite this, Craig then took part in an ironman event in Bolton in July 2021 and raised more than £3500 for Brain Tumour Research. 

Craig after his second surgery [Brain Tumour Scotland] (Image: Brain Tumour Scotland)

In September, Craig started to have seizures and he was suffering from headaches which were increasing in severity, and an MRI scan revealed another regrowth so he needed to have a third operation to remove the tumour. 

Alan said: "The tumour had progressed to a stage four glioblastoma. 

"Craig knew the prognosis was terminal but he still put on a brave face." 

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Brain Tumour Scotland (Image: Brain Tumour Scotland)

On November 10, 2021, Craig died peacefully surrounded by his family.

Now, Alan's best friend of 50 years, Bill Stewart, 64, from Glasgow, and Alan's school friends, Midge Peebles and Stuart McKay have organised a charity concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in memory of Craig to raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research. 

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours.

Brain Tumour Scotland (Image: Brain Tumour Scotland)

Alan, who supported Craig throughout, said: "Craig was such a friendly, open and honest family man.

"He was also a very good guitar player and loved rock music so this concert is a fitting way to celebrate Craig’s life and raise much-needed money for Brain Tumour Research."

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: "We are extremely grateful to Bill and Alan for organising what should be a wonderful concert at the Hard Rock Cafe.

"It’s only with the support of people like them that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours, improve options and outcomes for patients like Craig, and ultimately, find a cure for all types of brain tumours."

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.

It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and to find a cure.

You can buy tickets for the concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Glasgow HERE.