'I won't give up' - terminally ill dad's determination to find potentially life-saving clinical trial

A 35-year-old dad diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour is hoping the combined power of media and social media can offer him and his young family some hope.

Sunderland-born Craig Dunn, who lives in South Shields with his fiancée Nabela Salem, and their daughter Serena, three, was first diagnosed with medulloblastoma - a rare and aggressive brain tumour - in May 2025 after experiencing severe headaches.

He underwent emergency surgery to remove the mass at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), in Newcastle, before undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Freeman Hospital.

Life had returned almost to normal, albeit living with the side effects of radiotherapy, with Craig in remission and attending regular check ups - only to be given the heartbreaking news in May of this year that the tumour had returned.

Craig, who had been experiencing no recent symptoms, said: “To have such a young daughter and think that in a year’s time I might not be here is such a lot to take in and it’s been a struggle mentally - but I’m not giving up, I want to see if there are any other options out there.”

The prognosis is that Craig may have months, not years, left with his beloved family and that the only treatment available is radiotherapy to prolong his life, not cure him.

The most recent tumour was again removed at the RVI but as the former Monkwearmouth School pupil explains: “They’ve said it came back so quick last time, within 10 months, that it will just keep coming back.

“But I want to see if there are any specialists or researchers out there who may have treatment options that could offer a potential cure.

“We’ve been asking people to share my story far and wide and the response has been incredible. It’s all really overwhelming and I can’t thank people enough.”

While medulloblastoma is more commonly found in young children, it is extremely rare in adults, meaning there is very little research and limited treatment options available for people of Craig’s age.

Devastated by the diagnosis, a family friend set up a Go Fund Me to help pay for any potential clinical trials and to help the family make precious memories together.

You can donate to the Go Fund Me here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-craig-nabela-and-serena

The Sunderland, South Tyneside and wider North East community has rallied round to support the family, with the Go Fund Me now totalling more than £65,000 and counting.

In 2018, Craig became seriously ill with sepsis and required emergency surgery to save his life.

Due to his medical history, he was unable to obtain life insurance, making his family financially vulnerable at an already incredibly difficult time.

But the money will also help the family to create memories, with Craig, who worked in corporate accounts for Northern Gas & Power before his illness, already planning video diaries Serena can watch when she’s older.

One special memory will be her mam and dad’s wedding, which the couple, who live off John Reid Road, have brought forward to next week when they will marry at South Shields Town Hall.

In a cruel twist, Nabela lost her mam, Breda Hanlon, to a brain tumour when she was just a baby and took on the Great North Run last year for Brain Tumour Research in honour of her mam and Craig.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” says Craig. “And for Nabela to have experienced that loss when she was so young, then for this to happen again.

“It’s been a difficult year for us all and a tough pill to swallow. Just 24 hours before my initial diagnosis, I’d been at the gym and used to love being an active dad, going for walks.

“The side effects of radiotherapy means I struggle to do what I used to be able to physically - but I’m not giving up.”

Craig has also set up a Facebook page called where anyone who can help can contact him, which you can follow at Craig Vs Medulloblastoma