Community / Brain tumour campaign for Bryan raises over £69k in 24 hours
Community rallies around Peterson family
A CAMPAIGN to raise £150,000 for well-known local figure Bryan Peterson’s brain tumour treatment has raised over £69,000 in just 24 hours.
In a remarkable display of Shetland’s fundraising generosity, over 1,100 people have donated to the fundraiser already – raising just under half of the overall goal.
As reported by Shetland News on Friday, Bryan has been undergoing treatment for an aggressive brain tumour called glioblastoma, one of the most challenging cancers that exist.
The 49-year old is a well-known figure throughout Shetland for his work in the arts and in education, as independent councillor for Shetland South and as the council’s depute convener.
And there has been a superb response from the isles community, who have rallied around to support him and his family.
In March 2025 Bryan suffered a seizure at work and was taken to hospital, before being diagnosed with glioblastoma.
The average survival rate is between 12 and 16 months, with only between five to ten per cent of patients surviving the following five years.
Around £150,000 is needed over the next six months to continue private care and cancer treatment abroad, something not available through NHS Scotland.
The launch of the ambitious fundraiser on Friday coincided with Brain Tumour Awareness Month, a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of a condition that affects around 3,000 people in the UK every year.
As part of the awareness month, Bryan and wife Karlin are calling for better access to clinical trials and the urgent need for improved access to innovative treatments in Scotland.
Bryan has been undergoing specialist care in Cologne, Germany over recent months and hopes to continue to do so.
Launching the fundraising campaign, Bryan’s sister Karen said: “The cost of the initial six-month phase, which is designed to work alongside Bryan’s chemotherapy and to prepare his immune system for the second stage, has been covered by Bryan and Karlin themselves.
“They are now ready to begin the second phase which is both more advanced and more expensive.
“It includes a personalised dendritic cell vaccine, created using Bryan’s own tumour tissue, which is designed to teach his immune system to recognise and fight the cancer.
“This treatment offers real hope – and Bryan’s recent MRI scans have been really encouraging – but it comes with very significant costs.”
Donations can be made here.
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