A BURY couple, who are both paramedics with Northwest Ambulance Service, are taking centre stage in a charity’s campaign to find a cure for brain tumours.

Gary Pullan, 41, and his wife Claire, 43, are helping Brain Tumour Research to celebrate its Wear A Hat Day campaign for 2021 by posing for the cameras with their sons.

Gary’s son Matthew Pullan, a student at Bury College, has been diagnosed with a brain tumour twice. The first when he was three and more recently, at the age of 17.

The 18-year-old is currently receiving chemotherapy at The Christie in Withington to treat his high-grade brain stem tumour.

Claire, who is Matthew’s stepmum, said: “We feel very humbled but lucky to be working as key workers during the pandemic. With the country in lockdown, we are privileged to be able to go to work, see our colleagues and be there for our patients.

“Taking patients to hospital and having to leave family at home has been the most difficult part of our work.”

“Matthew is an inspirational young man. We are so very proud of him and despite knowing the limitations of his condition, Matthew also wants to raise awareness to help others who are diagnosed with this devastating illness.”

In September 2020, Matthew’s brother Alex, a pupil at Holy Cross College in Bury, completed a six-week, 5k-a-day running streak, which coincided with his identical twin’s daily radiotherapy treatment. The pair raised more than £15,500 for Brain Tumour Research.

The Pullans’ image will now be seen across the country as part of the charity’s marketing imagery featuring key worker families being involved in Wear A Hat Day which takes place on Friday, March 26.

Register to take part at wearahatday.org #WearAHatDay