A young brain tumour patient from Chester who beat the odds to train as a teacher will take centre stage in London tomorrow (Tuesday, May 20) when world-renowned scientists gather to drive forward the search for a cure.

University of Chester student Hannah Jones, of Westminster Park , was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 15, when she was studying for her GCSEs at Christleton High School.

She will tell researchers from around the world about her own experience living in the shadow of a brain tumour and urge them to do whatever it takes to find more effective treatments.

Hannah, now 20, had two major brain operations and gruelling radiotherapy treatment after her tumour was first diagnosed in 2008. It recurred less than a year later and she underwent further life-saving surgery which caused a stroke, leaving her unable to walk or feed herself.

She made an astonishing recovery and went on to win awards for her courage and her fundraising efforts for The Brain Tumour Charity, organisers of the Brilliant Minds symposium. Hannah has raised more than £170,000 to date to help fund its pioneering brain tumour research and was crowned Champion of Champions in the Trinity Mirror/Scottish Power Your Champions awards in 2010.

Hannah had another cause for celebration when she passed her driving test earlier today.

Now in her final year of a teaching degree at the University of Chester, Hannah will have an MRI  scan next month that marks the fifth anniversary of her last operation. A clear result would represent a significant milestone –  but Hannah lives with the knowledge that she could face a further battle against her cancer.

“It will come back in the end,” she said. “But I’ll carry on fundraising and talking about brain tumour research until I can’t do it  any more.”

Hannah’s own neurosurgeon and oncologist from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital will be in the audience to hear her speak, along with specialists from countries including the US, Australia, Germany, Canada, Holland and Italy.

After the event at the Queen Elizabeth II conference in Westminster, Hannah will speak at a parliamentary reception attended by symposium participants, MPs  and peers from all parties and families affected by brain tumours.

She is passionate about the need for more brain tumour research, believing she is alive today partly because she was one of the first paediatric brain tumour patients in the UK to be given chemotherapy drugs via ‘wafers’  inserted into her brain.

Brain tumours are the biggest  cancer killer of children in the UK and other young people Hannah met during her treatment have  already lost their lives to the disease.

She will tell the symposium:  “We should not have to plan our funerals as children or young adults, pick our funeral songs, say goodbyes.”

Hannah said she would also use her speech to highlight the long-term effects of brain tumours and their treatment.

“I think it’s important for the researchers to be aware that it’s not just the cancer that changes your life, it’s what happens because of the treatment.

“My pituitary gland was damaged by radiotherapy, which means it doesn’t produce growth hormones, so I suffered from extreme tiredness after my treatment. Now I have to have an injection of replacement growth hormones every night.”

Sarah Lindsell, chief executive  of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “We are bringing together a  group of brilliant minds, researchers at the forefront of international efforts to improve  brain tumour treatments and to  ind a cure.

“We want Hannah there because none of us should ever forget that every research discovery,  every laboratory achievement, every treatment trial has the potential to change and save lives  like hers.

“Hannah’s courage and determination have already inspired so  many people to help us in the fight  against brain tumours. Now her  story will be heard by an international audience with the  power to drive forward global  brain tumour research.”