VOTE: Student battling brain tumour earns university place
EXAM stress is something that all students have to face – but few will have prepared to sit their crucial exams while also battling a life threatening brain tumour.
Today as students across the country are receiving their GCSE results, remarkable Keelby teenager Matt Clark, 18, has been looking back at his battle to bag a university place, while fighting the disease.
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Matt Clark, who has survived a brain tumour and successfully completed his A-levels to earn a place at Cardiff University to study radiotherapy and oncology.
Matt was forced to squeeze two years of study into a single school year at Franklin College, just months after undergoing a major operation to remove a cancerous lump from his head.
And despite having to cram his revision around gruelling sessions of chemotherapy, the former Caistor Grammar pupil succeeded, achieving the grades he needed to win one of only 17 coveted places at Cardiff University.
Now he plans to help others in his position, studying radiotherapy and oncology – a course he decided to apply for after enduring life-saving treatment at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.
Matt Clark, who has survived a brain tumour and successfully completed his A-levels to earn a place at Cardiff University to study radiotherapy and oncology.
For more about his inspirational story, and news of today's record-breaking GCSE results, see today's Grimsby Telegraph.
Humberston Maths and Computing School students celebrate the end of the wait for their GCSE results. From left: Oliver Brown, Katy Robinson, Bilal Al-Ankar, Charlotte Robinson and Abbie Cooper
If your child has taken GCSE or A levels this year, don't miss our bumper exam special, free with Wednesday's Telegraph.
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by june clark, Grimsby
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 10:44AM
“Well done Matt. You have done brilliantly well. A credit to the whole Clark family: Good luck in your chosen future career and may you help lots of others in similar situations to yours. Good luck Ian we are backing you all the way.xx”
by June and Ray Clark, Girmsby
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 10:36AM
“Well done Matt really proud of you. You have done brilliantly. You are a credit to the whole Clark family. Good luck in you chosen field and may you help lots of others in similar situations to yours.
Good luck Ian . we are backing you all the way.. Luv June and Ray x”
by Leon Ward, Grimsby
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 11:55PM
“The Judge - You are a prat.
Matt - You're a star, well done on your results, and well done on your fight and your extremely prestigious career. You're such an inspiration to all teenagers who far too often get bogged down with exam stress, but you did it one year. Congratulations. Best wishes for the future; you deserve it.”
by Neil, Cleethorpes
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:51PM
“Oops ! Forgot to mention a few things,Sally. The pubs name has changed,although it is still on Monkgate. Only four of the fifty ish people worked for the bank. It was THAT windy that I got blown into a ditch. I saved the critter from getting soggy though,which is more than can be said of me.......”
by Neil, Cleethorpes
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:16PM
“I did not know "candlelighters" still existed,Sally. The gentleman who originally set it up lived in York,in memory of his wife.In the 80's ,he persuaded me and others from the Black Horse (subtle hint which bank I worked for) to walk to St James Hospital for charity. We carried various gifts. Windy? Wow ! Guess who was chosen to carry the largest stuffed critter? After thirty a bit miles,I was a little fed up. Meet the children and it was no problem compared to theirs. Good luck to "candlelighters".”
by Thomas Green, Killingholme
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 9:06PM
“Brilliant news, good luck Matt.”
by David Lowry, Columbia SC - USA
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 8:14PM
“The Judge - tetney Lock You are a prat !!!. Well done Matt. Good inspirational piece and well choosen career.”
by the judge, tetney lock
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 7:00PM
“Well done Matt, but im afraid you along with thousands of others will now have no job to go to, because there isnt any. And doing more education is pointless as youll only rack up thousands in debts, only to get no job at the end. THE DOUBLE DIP RECESSION IS LOOMING”
by Les Brechin, grimsby
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 6:43PM
“Congratulations Matt, you've done amazing. Having had a brain tumour myself I know the importance of bringing new oncologists/clinicians through the system. Good luck for the future in all you do.”
by Sammy, Grimsby
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 1:58PM
“Well done Matt... I lost my mum to a brain tumour so know only too well the difficulties and pain that any sufferer goes through. You should be so proud of yourself xx”