Brighton Boy With Brain Tumour Records Song For Charity With UK Top Artists

Eight-year-old, Brighton born Ravi Adelekan who is living with a brain tumour, has launched a campaign to raise £250,000 for brain tumour charities.

The football-mad boy from Brighton has so far raised over £76,000 to date and shared his story on ITV’s This Morning, BBC Breakfast News, ITV Meridian News, The Adam Buxton Podcast, Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6Music show and featured on the cover of The Week Junior magazine. 

He even recorded a cover version of ‘A Million Dreams’ back in November of last year, with a video featuring musicians, athletes and celebrities, including Hugh Jackman, Paloma Faith, Bastille, Metronomy, Coldplay, Mary Berry, De La Soul, footballer Leandro Trossard, Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) and many more.

Ravi's Dream campaign isn't stopping there though. 

On June 11, community team Preston Park Panthers and Worthing FC will host a day of football at their 4000-capacity ground in support of Ravi’s Dream. There will be a mini tournament for kids, as well as women’s and men’s matches featuring a mix of celebrities and ex-professionals. 

His family are currently recruiting referees, linespeople and team sponsors and asking Sussex residents to pitch in and join the campaign.

His goal is to raise £250,000 to be shared between The Brain Tumour Charity and brainstrust.  

Like many seven-year-olds, Ravi Adelekan is a young boy with a million dreams. However, in September 2021 his dreams were interrupted by the news that he had a benign tumour in his brain stem. 

Following ten hours of surgery, Ravi started his journey to learn to walk and feed himself again. He was determined to return to his passions of playing tennis, football, music and maths as soon as possible, smiling and joking through each day. 

The surgeons were not able to remove the whole tumour, and Ravi lives with its effects every day. He still lives his life to the maximum with bravery, fun and inspirational strength. 

Steph Coffey Senior Fundraising Officer at brainstrust, said:

“At brainstrust we're all over the moon that Ravi and his family have chosen to support our community with their charity record. The money raised by Ravi's charity record will make sure we are there for the people who need us. Every penny will allow us to be there for people feeling afraid and alone after a brain tumour diagnosis. We are incredibly grateful to Ravi and his family for their support, and to everyone who listens to this song for helping raise vital funds and awareness.” 

The Brain Tumour Charity and brainstrust have both had a huge impact on Ravi and provided invaluable support in his aftercare following the surgery. To mark the first anniversary of his operation, with the help of his Dad, Gbenga (Mercury Prize nominated Metronomy’s bass player) and introduced by the Director of The Greatest Showman, Michael Gracey and cast member Hugh Jackman, Ravi gathered together world renowned celebrities and musicians to produce a music video and raise money for the two charities that are close to his heart. 

Ravi said:

“I love songs and music, and I think this song is a special song because it’s about your dreams coming true, just like I dream that having a brain tumour doesn’t mean you can do anything less than other people.” 

The multi-talented Adelekan family (including Grammy Award-winning uncle Synematik) have produced and performed a version of the song A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman. The song and video feature Ravi, his family and friends alongside global musicians and celebrities, including Bastille, Paloma Faith, Metronomy, Damon Albarn, Coldplay, Mary Berry, Kate Magowan, Leandro Trossard, Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA), Sarah Hunter, The Big Moon, John Simm,  De La Soul, Jake Jarman, Jimmy Somerville, Courtney Tulloch and Heather Watson who all contribute to Ravi’s Dream.

The video aims to raise awareness of the impact of brain tumours and offers an insight into how funding can truly transform the recovery process of those affected.

While we don’t know what the future holds for Ravi, his vision is clear: a future where tumours like his could be treated without the type of major  surgery he went through. He would also love for the incredible medical care and support he received at King’s College London to be available everywhere.

Gina Almond, The Brain Tumour Charity’s Director of Fundraising, said:

“Ravi’s story has touched so many hearts with his resilience and determination to follow his dreams and thereby raise awareness of brain tumours. We are inspired by him, his family, friends and all those who have contributed to make Ravi’s Dream a reality, uniting the community with this wonderful idea. We are unashamedly ambitious in our goals to double the survival and halve the harm that brain tumours have on quality of life, and Ravi’s Dream will be invaluable in helping us to achieve these by reaching such a wide audience.”

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If you want to be involved in Ravi's June 11 football tournament, please contact Gbenga on 07900987202 or ravisdreamteam@gmail.com