Lisa Connell Joins Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity as Patron

We are incredibly proud to announce that Lisa Connell has officially joined Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity as a Patron.

Lisa’s story is one of strength, honesty and unwavering determination. Her lived experience with an inoperable brain tumour has shaped not only her life, but the lives of countless others through her advocacy and fundraising.

This is her story- in her own words.

Who Is Lisa Connell?

Lisa Connell is an entrepreneur, campaigner and founder of Influential Stars- but before any of that, she is someone who has lived with the daily reality of a brain tumour since 2006.

Her diagnosis came as a complete shock.

After experiencing double vision, Lisa attended an appointment alone, expecting to discuss corrective eye surgery. Instead, she was told:

“Sorry, it’s not good news, Miss Connell. We’ve detected that you’ve got a brain tumour.”

She recalls the moment vividly:

“When someone says you’ve got a brain tumour, you’ve no idea what they mean. You just think the worst.”

Her tumour is benign- but as Lisa powerfully puts it:

“Benign is not fine.”

Over the years, Lisa has experienced paralysis, loss of speech, loss of coordination and repeated rounds of treatment including Gamma Knife radiotherapy, debulking surgery and further radiotherapy.

At one stage, she was told she might never walk again.

Six months later, she completed a 10k.

“I managed to retrain my brain. And I thought, you know what? I need to tell people you can do this. Because if I can do it, anyone can.”

Living With the Unknown

Lisa’s journey has not been linear. There have been moments where she was told she was “stable”, only to later discover progression.

“They kept saying, ‘Yes, it’s stable.’ But they were looking at the wrong scan. Years had passed.”

Her tumour later showed progression around 2020, during perimenopause- something she believes may be linked to hormonal changes.

“You know your body. You just know. But there’s no research, no clear answers.”

Her frustration highlights something many brain tumour patients face- uncertainty.

“We don’t know how these tumours evolve. No one knows the answer. That’s why research is so important.”

She is particularly passionate about challenging misconceptions around benign tumours:

“Just because it’s classed as benign does not mean it is fine. You still live with day-to-day symptoms. It can still grow. It can still be life-altering.”

Why She Cares So Deeply About Research

Lisa believes strongly in investing in better understanding brain tumours- especially when it comes to causes.

“If we knew what caused them, they’d be so much easier and more manageable to deal with.”

For Lisa, it all comes back to one thing:

“More research needs to be funded. Going to causes like yours- that’s how we make change.”

What Does Lisa Do?

Lisa channels her experience into action.

She is the founder of Influential Stars, a prize-draw fundraising platform that connects creators, influencers and the public with charitable causes.

Influential Stars evolved from her earlier initiative, Rent a Date for Charity, which raised over £50,000 for brain tumour-related causes.

But after health setbacks forced her to step back, and a failed relaunch attempt left her disillusioned, she rebuilt the concept from scratch- this time making it more inclusive.

“What did I do wrong the first time? You had to have a lot of money to enter. I wanted to change that.”

Today, Influential Stars allows anyone- not just celebrities- to host a prize draw and raise money for a chosen charity.

“It’s about influential people- and everyone can be influential.”

Lisa’s platform has already raised thousands of pounds for charitable causes and continues to grow.

Why Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity?

Lisa has supported Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity for years- long before becoming a Patron.

When asked why she wanted to formally take on the role, her answer was heartfelt:

“I’m not someone who just wants to put my name to something. I want to get involved.”

She adds:

“I’m a hands-on person. I want to learn. I want to understand. I want to be part of it.”

As a smaller, regional charity, our community-focused approach resonated strongly with her:

“I tend to go with smaller charities. It’s that ‘I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine’ feeling.”

Lisa is already looking forward to visiting Yorkshire with her daughter and becoming an active part of our charity family.

Advice From Lisa

When asked what she would say to someone newly diagnosed, Lisa didn’t hesitate:

“Don’t give up just by the diagnosis.”

She encourages people to seek clarity, ask questions and remember that every tumour- and every person- is different.

And above all:

“You don’t know what tumour you’ve got at that stage. Don’t lose hope at the first hurdle.”

Follow Lisa’s Journey

Lisa continues to share her story, advocacy work and fundraising initiatives through:

• Influential Stars: Influential Stars | Fundraising Prize Draws With A Difference

• Instagram: @officiallylisaconnell

Her platform is raw, honest and real.

A Message That Stays With You

Perhaps the quote that captures Lisa best is this:

“I feel like my path has had a purpose. Everything’s happened for a reason. Yes, I’ve got this brain tumour. But I’ve got a platform now that can help others.”

Lisa, we are so proud to welcome you as a Patron of Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity. Thank you for your courage, your candour and your commitment to making sure no one faces a brain tumour diagnosis alone.

Welcome to the family!

If you have been inspired by Lisa's story and want to improve the lives of people who have been impacted by a brain tumour diagnosis, make a donation today and change a life: www.yorksbtc.org.uk/donate