Hamilton College teenager who had rare brain cancer left poster and his own story to help others

The mum of a former Hamilton College pupil who died from a rare brain cancer has revealed her pride at discovering a poster he made in a bid to help others.

Fraser McAllister, 18, died in July 2022 after being diagnosed two years earlier with an anaplastic glioneuronal tumour .

His mum and step-dad Caroline and Phil Molloy have been fundraising for the Beatson charity. Caroline has publicly shared the story of her emotional journey to help others too, through the charity Child Bereavement UK, who offered the family support.

The teenager had documented his own battle in a written document – My Brain Tumour Journey. And, while going through Fraser’s phone last year Caroline discovered a poster her son had made and sent to his registration teacher Mrs Furie to proof just months before his death, as he the cancer was affecting his brain.

Caroline said: “Fraser sent it in April 2022 but I was unaware of it. I felt proud when I saw it. That was just the type of person he was.

“He’d not long been told that the tumour had spread but he wasn’t aware how serious it was, or maybe he knew deep down.”

In March this year, during Brain Tumour Awareness, Jackson Carlaw MSP highlighted Fraser’s courage as he read out his story in the Scottish Parliament

He said of the teenager: “If anybody just got on with it, it was Fraser, who, at the age of 16, decided that he was not going to put his life on hold, and did everything that he could.

“More important is that Fraser decided that he would document his brain tumour story, and his dignity, courage and bravery in the face of the adversity that he faced is truly inspiring.”

The MSP then produced Fraser’s poster and the list of symptoms he had suffered, before adding: “Fraser wanted to ensure that others facing the same condition would have a chance of surviving by having the earliest possible diagnosis. That is the sort of example that can inspire us all.”

Among the symptoms Fraser noted were, dizziness (not constantly), but while taking a hot bath or looking upward. He also suffered double vision and eye movement, as well as headaches that didn’t ease much with pain killers, he also felt sick and had stomach pain.

The teenager had been a keen equestrian, riding from before the age of five until he started to suffer dizzy spells when he was 14 years old, it would be another two years before the reason for his dizzy spells was uncovered.

He then started to suffer sickness and stomach pains but only in the morning. As his illness progressed he experienced months of debilitating headaches and said he felt as if his head was “going to blow up” before he was taken to hospital.

Over £12,000 has already been raised in Fraser’s memory for the Beatson Cancer Charity, from a number of events including, by his aunt Pauline McElwaine who held an afternoon tea in memory of her nephew and his gran Ann McAllister ; a football match hosted by his school as well as a sponsored walk; and school pal Luke Wilson from Uddingston who took on the half-marathon at the Great Scottish Run with his dad Alan and Ava Gilmurray.

His parents have set out to raise funds for the Beatson Cancer Charity and completed the 5K event recently along with friend Caroline Mitchell at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

Fraser's mum added: “Fraser wanted money raised to be earmarked for brain tumour research, that was his wish. He wrote his own story and it was up in the school and it was handed out to everyone who attended the service at the crematorium and it included a QR code so people could donate - raising over £700.

"Fraser wrote his own story to raise awareness, and in his words, ‘If my story can help one person - great!’”

Caroline and Phil’s fundraising page remains open and can be found at: www.justgiving.com/page/caroline-molloy-1713273692897

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