A couple from Woburn Sands who lost two family members to brain tumours have lit up their house in festive lights to raise money to fund research into the disease.
A couple from Woburn Sands who lost two family members to brain tumours have lit up their house in festive lights to raise money to fund research into the disease.
Teresa and Jason Smith, from Vandyke Close, have been illuminating their home for the new city-based charity Brain Tumour Researcheach Christmas for the past 10 years.
Teresa’s eldest sister, Sue Hughes, 55, died in November 2015 - just three weeks after she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma.
Teresa’s father-in-law, Dave Long, 65, died from the same type of brain tumour last September.
More than 100,000 people in the UK are estimated to be living with a brain tumour or the long-term impact of their diagnosis, yet research into the disease has been chronically underfunded.
“It was like being in a surreal nightmare to have lost two relatives to this horrible disease,” Teresa said, “Sue and Dave were older, but brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and that’s just something I can’t comprehend.
“Sue and Dave both loved Christmas. When Sue died, we weren’t sure whether to celebrate Christmas, but we decided to go ahead while raising money for vital research. We don’t want other families to lose loved ones to this devastating disease.”
Teresa and Jason’s Christmas display, which took a week to set up, features reindeer, a unicorn, owls, birds along the hedges and penguins.
“Sue loved penguins, so we always make sure we have lots of those in the display which light up for her,” said Teresa.
“We also have a Santa’s letter box where the visitors can post donations for Brain Tumour Research.”
Teresa and Jason have raised more than £3,000 for the charity to date.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Sue and Dave’s story is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. We’re grateful to Teresa for sharing their stories and for supporting the charity year after year. We hope people visit the Christmas lights display and will be inspired to donate.”
To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Teresa and Jason’s Christmas lights display, visit: justgiving.com/page/teresa-smith-christmas2025
