Senior Basildon councillor raises cash for brain surgery equipment (From Basildon Recorder)

Senior Basildon councillor raises cash for brain surgery equipment

7:30am Friday 5th October 2012 in News

AFTER feeling powerless to help his son when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, Malcolm Buckley turned his emotions into a force for good by raising £6,500 for vital brain surgery equipment.

The determined dad and senior Basildon councillor achieved his fundraising target after taking part in the Fun Walk organised by Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron, which was renamed the Jubilee Fun Walk this year to honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

His son Christopher, 34, a supermarket manager, came through surgery at the neurological ward at Queen’s Hospital, Romford, and is now recovering well, despite the Ojemann cortical stimulator, which costs £6,500, being unavailable when he had his operation.

But Mr Buckley and his wife Sylvia, also a Basildon councillor, wanted to make sure the machine was available for patients in future.

The cabinet member for regeneration and community safety said he got in touch with everyone he knew to support the cause and was overwhelmed by people’s generosity.

He said: “People have been extremely generous and I’m very grateful for that. It does go to show there’s a good will out there where there is a good cause to be supported."