High Wycombe man who died aged 29 inspires amazing charity fundraiser

Sean Crossey, from High Wycombe, was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive and fast-growing brain tumour, in August 2016 after experiencing intermittent vomiting, dizziness and crippling headaches.

He underwent three brain surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy but died in September 2018 - just three months after marrying his long-term partner, Laura. He was 29 years old.

His mum, Jo Crossey, said: “Sean and I were very close; he would always come to me to talk about things. He was such a lovely boy, very loving and thoughtful all the way through his life, and so positive, happy and charismatic.

“It’s so unfair for young people, like him, who have their whole lives ahead of them to get this cruel disease and for no rhyme or reason be unable to go on.”

Twins Ellie and Layla Hamilton with their grandparents Jo and Bernard Crossey

Following his diagnosis, Sean became involved with Brain Tumour Research, a charity his family has continued to support.

On June 17 Jo, of High Wycombe, will be taking part in the charity’s Wear A Hat Day with Flowers by hosting an event at The Squirrel pub in Booker, whilst the school Sean’s nieces attend, St Bartholomew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, in Wigginton, Hertfordshire, will also be taking part in the fundraiser.

Jo has planned an afternoon drink and cake party at the pub and will be collecting donations from participants, which will include people from the local community as well as friends and family. She will be wearing a pink cowboy hat, which she will decorate with flowers especially for the occasion.

The 62-year-old said: “Wear A Hat Day with Flowers takes place on June 17, which is the day after what would have been Sean and Laura’s wedding anniversary, so it’s a poignant time of year for us.”

She added: “You feel so helpless when you can’t do anything. I can’t help Sean now but fundraising events like this are something I can do and hopefully, with more research and development, we will find more suitable treatments for brain tumours.

Sean and Laura

“I know we got caught up in the hope that Sean would be the one who survived longer than anybody else and this feels like our way of giving that hope to another family.”

Sean’s six-year-old twin nieces, Ellie and Layla, took part in Wear A Hat Day last year along with other pupils in their class, but this year they will be taking part in Wear A Hat day with Flowers as part of a whole school fundraiser. They will be reusing their hats from last year and filling them with flowers.

Their mum, Emma Crossey, who lives in Tring, said: “The girls were only three when my brother died but they definitely remember him and, as they’ve got older they’ve asked more questions. We talk about him every day and they’ve got toys that he and Laura bought them, which they’re very attached to.”

The 36-year-old, who left her job as an A&E nurse after Sean died to return to the pharmaceutical industry, specifically oncology clinical trials, added: “The biggest thing I’ve taken from losing Sean is to live every day as if it’s your last.

"I used to be somebody who liked having a plan and knew where I was going, but when your whole world stops like that, it makes you re-evaluate your priorities.

“That’s a big part of why I changed jobs. I still love nursing but not the lifestyle that goes with it; I do still work weekend shifts occasionally but I wanted a better work-life balance and to be around more for my children.

"I’m also very passionate about helping to find a cure, which is why I’m working in the industry I am. If we can prevent one family from going through what we did, then we’ve succeeded in my opinion.”

To donate to Ellie and Layla's fundraising page, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wear-a-hat-day-sean-crossey