Teacher 'positive' after brain tumour surgery

Supporters raised £150,000 in eight days to help father of two Stephen Webb

A "one of a kind" teacher is feeling positive after more than seven hours of brain tumour surgery, his family have said.

Stephen Webb, co-head of English at Hastings High School in Burbage, Leicestershire, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in August.

Mr Webb's wife Cheryl said he was "home and resting" following an operation.

And she thanked supporters who helped raise £150,000 in eight days to carry out private immunotherapy treatment which may prolong Stephen's life.

The dad of two's condition has an average survival time of 12 to 18 months, according to the Institute of Cancer Research, with only 5% of patients surviving more than five years.

A GoFundMe page was set up to raise the £150,000 needed to allow Mr Webb to have immunotherapy to train his body to fight the tumour.

Donations meant the target was reached in eight days.

After conscious brain surgery to reduce the size of the tumour on Thursday, the programme of private treatment can now take place.

Mr Webb's wife Cheryl said she was trying to keep him relaxed after his operation

She said: "Stephen endured and remained awake for over seven hours of the surgery which had its complications throughout but overall they were able to remove most of the tumour.

"He's feeling very positive but we’re aware that his recovery will take some time and he was really happy to hear the news that we had reached our target on the day after his surgery and this huge blanket of support has given us all the strength to keep on fighting.

"Thank you to the fundraisers, various businesses and schools for jumping on board at whatever means necessary to help us reach the goal."

Colleagues said Mr Webb was "the teacher you wish you had"

Claire Bradley, co-head teacher at Hastings, said Mr Webb was a well-loved member of the school community.

"Mr Webb is our heart and soul of our Hastings family, so to find out that news, especially when he is so young, is shocking and devastating," she said.

"He is one of a kind. Mr Webb is the teacher that you never forget. He is the teacher you wish you had."

As well as donations from well-wishers, an appeal called Save Our Stephen took place on Wednesday, when almost 1,000 staff and pupils spelled out the letters SOS on the Hastings High School field.

A number of schools in the Hinckley area also held non-uniform days and other fundraising events to help.

And Grassroots club FC Burbage donated £7,500 to the fundraiser.