New fund to remember local businessman who died from brain tumour

A new fund has been launched in memory of local businessman Roger Harris CBE to help raise more than £250,000 for research into brain tumours.

Roger, who was an accountant for KPMG and former president of Plymouth Albion RFC, died in 2017, leaving behind a legacy impacting business forums across Devon and Cornwall.

Now the Roger Harris Fund will support the leading work at the ��Ƶ’s Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence to help research further into the condition.

The University centre is one of only four Centres of Excellence in the UK and specialises in low-grade brain tumours. These brain tumours grow slowly and the research team is getting closer to understanding why some of them become cancerous.

Just one day of research costs £2,740 – and the Roger Harris Fund is aiming to raise 100 days’ worth, £274,000.

The fund, which is supported by Peninsula Medical Foundation, was announced on Wednesday 20 March during Brain Tumour Awareness month, at an event welcoming business leaders from across the South West.

Roger’s wife Joy Harris, who attended the event, said:

“When Roger was diagnosed with a brain tumour, he characteristically wanted ‘no fuss’. But together we must work to find a cure and treatments for this dreadful disease. Today another 44 people will learn that they have a brain tumour. My hope is that this research will make a difference to their lives.”

Ian Brokenshire, a partner in KPMG, said:

“It was a tremendous blow to us all when we lost Roger to a brain tumour. When I learned about the world-leading research into brain tumours happening right here in Plymouth, it seemed fitting to try and do something in his memory. I hope many people will join us in this fight against cancer, by helping to fund such valuable research.”

Professor Oliver Hanemann, Head of the ��Ƶ Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, and Director of the University’s Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed), said:

“For too long brain tumour research has been underfunded nationally. Yet brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer. No one knows why slow growing tumours become malignant, but it’s a question we’re getting closer to answering. We’re very grateful to the family and friends of Roger Harris for their inspiring goal to fund 100 days of research into treatments and, ultimately, the cure for brain tumours.”