Brave Gemma beating the odds

Gemma Wensley is celebrating her “miraculous” survival five years on from being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The popular former Exeter nurse, who is well known for her charity fundraising, has good news to share.

She said: “I’ve been off my chemotherapy now for six months and the scans are looking positive. There has been no change since a year ago.

"The doctors have said they do not know how to explain it. I thought it was game over. For things to have gone the way they have, it’s really miraculous.” Over the weekend Gemma celebrated her 33rd birthday with friends and family."

In December 2009 Gemma was diagnosed with a brain tumour and she left her job as a nurse at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital to prepare for the “inevitable.”

Since then she has endured five years of gruelling chemotherapy which shrank the tumour.

She explained: “It’s a really unusual situation to be in but my confidence is growing with every positive scan. Previously, my prognosis was just a few months, now I’m starting to think I might live a longer life after all, but my condition is always at the back of mind and things could change at any time. “My brain tumour is still inoperable but I’m still here.

"My future remains uncertain but I never give up, I want to give back to the organisations which helped me.”

Gemma, who was a Hospiscare day care patient, is now busy promoting Gemfest on Sunday 5th April - a festival she hopes will raise thousands of pounds for the local end of life charity which helped and supported her in her darkest days.

Half of the proceeds will also go to The Brain Tumour Charity, the UK's largest dedicated brain tumour charity. Previous festivals have raised a total of over £11,000 and Gemma is hoping to reach £20,000 this year.

Jim Gilbert, Hospiscare medical director, said: “It’s obviously great news that Gemma is doing so well and we’re all delighted at Hospiscare. It’s also very gratifying that her fundraising efforts are being directed at helping the large majority of people affected by brain tumours who sadly won’t do as well as Gemma is.

"Although research into this field is very important, we recognise at Hospiscare that the reality with this group of conditions, is that most people need help in making the very best of the time that remains for them.”

Gemma said: “I am really excited about this year’s Gemfest! This year is our biggest yet and the aim is to get bigger and better every year! It is hard work to organise but these amazing charities are so important to me, it’s worth every second spent on it!"

Gemma, a former pupil at Exeter College, has always been a big live music fan and regularly attended many UK festivals including Glastonbury before she fell ill. Friends organised a festival in 2012 to celebrate Gemma’s 30th birthday - this will be the third public Gemfest, with a host of live acts and performers at Exeter Phoenix.

The family daytime fun runs from 11am to 4pm including arts and crafts, stalls, drama and dance workshops and excellent live music in the bar from Teens Supporting Hospice.

From 6pm the event is a tickets only festival with an eclectic mix of music, comedy, poetry, DJ’s and more. New for 2015 is the Silent Disco, a unique way of listening and dancing to a choice of two DJ’s and increasingly popular at UK festivals.

The full line up for all stages can be found on the website but highlights for this year include popular local band Sound of the Sirens who have supported Gemfest from the original event back in 2012. Ben Laverick and Improperly have devised an evening of comedy with a mix of stand up and improvisation in the Black Box.

And another new feature is a Taking The Mic Gemfest special, featuring the cream of Exeter’s spoken word and poetry which will take place early evening in the bar area. The daytime activities are free.

Tickets for the evening are £12 (+50p booking fee) and are available from Exeter Phoenix Centre Box Office 01392 667080. For more information visit www.gemfest.co.uk or to make a donation at www.justgiving.co.uk/gemfest2015 Gemma is pictured with Dr John Searle, Hospiscare founder and president