Brain tumour research is shockingly underfunded. Historically, just 1% of national cancer research spending has gone towards brain tumours, despite brain tumours being the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 in the UK.

With 1 in 3 people knowing someone affected, the need for better treatments and earlier diagnosis is more urgent than ever.

I’m running the London Marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of my dad, Nigel, who we heartbreakingly lost earlier this year to a Stage 4 Glioblastoma (GBM).

Dad was just 45 when he was diagnosed, but those who knew him will remember that he never let his illness define him. He never lost his smile and continued to live life to the fullest, driven by a determination to achieve what he set out to do, fuelled by his love for life, humour, and unmistakable stubbornness.

We were incredibly fortunate that he gained access to the DCVax L through a trial on the NHS, which gifted our family 10 precious extra years. This is extraordinary when the typical prognosis for GBM is 12–18 months, and only around 5% of people survive to five years.

Had he not been offered this trial, accessing it privately would have cost up to £150,000, completely unaffordable to most families.

Because of this, dad ran marathons to raise money for this very charity, and he used his voice to push for change. Through BBC interviews and working with charities, he campaigned for better access to new treatments, more clinical trials, and improved NHS pathways for people living with brain tumours.

Sadly, Dad experienced an in operable recurrence in late 2024, and we were brought painfully back to the reality of how devastating and aggressive this disease truly is.

Now, I’m picking up the baton to support the charity that gave our family hope, so other families facing the same difficult journey can find it too.

By supporting me, you’ll be helping to:

• Support families through their toughest moments

• Accelerate research into better, kinder treatments and ultimately, a cure

• Improve diagnosis times so more people get help sooner

• Give hope to those living with this devastating disease

Just £900 can fund two days of research, so no matter the size of your donation, it truly makes a difference and I’d be incredibly grateful for your support!