Malcolm’s story

Fundraising stories , Patient stories

Malcolm lived a very active life, full of adventures alongside his wife Mary – his ‘rock and inspiration throughout 37 years’. After the shock of being told he had an inoperable brain tumour, he was determined to continue to enjoy it as much as he could for as long as he could. He also wanted to make a difference for others in a similar position, so he decided to take on a skydive and share his story. He told us about his life, his diagnosis and his one last great adventure.

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Four weeks

The first signs of something wrong were some problems I experienced with speech and words. I saw my GP, thinking I should perhaps have a memory test, and that I could have had a TIA. However, after being sent for an MRI scan the evidence was of a tumour. I was then quickly referred on to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where my neurosurgeon, Mr Lammy, asked me if I wanted to know everything – and I told him I did.

So, on February 24th, I had the news that it was an inoperable brain tumour, a glioblastoma, too deep in the brain for surgery, and I had a likelihood of eight months to live.

How life can change from under you, over the course of four weeks.

Fulfilment and gratitude

However, after the initial shock I have come to terms with diagnosis and am relaxed about it. I chose not to go for any treatment. No chemotherapy, no radiotherapy.

I’ve had a fantastic life and just want to live this remaining time as fully as I possibly can.

I am seeing all my friends and having a good time whilst I can. I am very happy to have such clarity of thought thanks to my surgeon Mr Lammy. I am forever grateful to him for that.

I have had a wonderful life of so many fantastic memories. I have travelled the world meeting so many lovely people, seen so many sights and had so many rich experiences. I cannot but be incredibly fulfilled and filled with joy.

Sharing passions

However I know it’s not so easy for my wonderful wife Mary. We’ve been together for over 37 years – travelled, climbed mountains, shared adventures.

In 1985 my first wife died, tragically young, due to kidney disease. She was aged just 34, and in losing her, I myself felt lost. I didn’t know what to do, where to go. I took myself away, I needed to travel and, wanting to go around the world, I booked a one-way ticket to Islamabad. That was a new start, instilling a fascination for travel and climbing mountains.

It was through travelling that I met Mary, a fellow adventurous spirit, and it was on one cold night in India, minus 10 degrees I recall, that I asked her ‘Would you like to spend the rest of your life with me?’

Striving for the peaks

From then we have travelled extensively all round the world, and as they say, travel broadens the mind and gives you a certain sense of perspective on your own life. We have been to very many countries including Albania, Kosovo, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Argentina, Patagonia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Moldova, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, Tibet, China, walked with lions in Africa….

I have walked round the Tour Du Mont Blanc, to the Himalayas (Nanda Devi and Everest), climbed to Kalar Patar (19,500ft), Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, climbed to 21,000ft above the Thorung La, to the Karakoram Mountains (K2, Nanga Parbat and Gondogoro), and climbed Mt Aspiring (10,000ft) in New Zealand. Closer to home I have completed the 284 mountains over 3,000ft in Scotland (the Munros) and all the 214 Wainwrights (mountains in the Lake District).

In work, I have been an industrial chemist, a pharmaceutical chemist, an information scientist, a marketing manager, a countryside manager and tree surgeon, and finally a project manager before retiring in 2012 and spending 10 years working for the Royal Voluntary Service driving people to and from hospital and shopping for them.

So, all in all, I’ve had a fantastic life.

A different perspective

And so here we are, set for one last great adventure.

I’ve climbed to double the height from which I’ll be skydiving, but I will never have seen the earth from the perspective that I’ll get when leaping from that plane.

I also have the perspective of understanding the need for support and through my fundraising I wish to support people who are facing the worry of brain tumour diagnosis. Whether inoperable like mine, or a brain tumour that means facing difficult surgery and treatment, or one that affects someone over a long period of time, support is so important – and for family and friends too. I’d like to do as much as I can to give this to others.

 

Malcolm Otter  |  April 2025

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Malcolm’s last great adventure

Malcolm completed his tandem skydive from 10,000ft with Skydive Langar, Nottingham, on Sunday 13th April. Family and friends joined him on this day to remember, and he enjoyed every minute!

Malcolm’s determination to embark on one last great adventure was matched by his desire to raise as much as possible to help support others affected by a brain tumour diagnosis and, with Gift Aid, his fundraiser reached an incredible £4,371.

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Sadly Malcolm passed away, peacefully at LOROS Hospice, Leicester, on 13th July 2025.

His energy, caring spirit and generosity made a great impression on everyone at Brain Tumour Support, and we are extremely proud and grateful to have been such a part of his last great adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

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Brain tumours can affect any one of us, irrespective of age, lifestyle or general health. Every 33 minutes someone in the UK receives this shocking diagnosis, and when faced with the words ‘You have a brain tumour’ the right support to help navigate the path ahead is vital.

Brain Tumour Support wants to ensure that no one feels alone at any stage of that journey. So if you are able to make a donation, helping us to be here for more people like Malcolm, we would be very grateful. Our support services are always free to access and rely on the generosity of fundraising and donations to be maintained. Thank you so much.

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