Last year, my niece was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour at a young age. There had been no warning signs, she was, and remains, a bright, funny, endlessly energetic little girl. It turned my family’s world upside down within a matter of hours.

Families facing a brain tumour diagnosis often describe it as one of the most frightening and disorienting experiences imaginable - this was our experience too. The months that followed were the hardest my family has ever gone through, particularly for her mum and dad. There were long stretches of uncertainty, small glimmers of hope, and setbacks that tested everyone.

But we also witnessed extraordinary care and extraordinary science. Thankfully, our story has had a good outcome so far, something we don’t take for granted for a single day as the risk of the cancer returning is still high.

Brain tumours cause more deaths among children and adults under 40 than any other cancer in the UK, and one in three people in the UK knows someone affected by the disease. Yet it remains relatively underfunded, with just 1% of the national spend on cancer research allocated to it since records began in 2002.

Brain Tumour Research campaigns for sustained, meaningful investment into research and funds a network of specialist research centres working to change outcomes for patients and families.

Having seen up close how essential research is to improving outcomes, I’m running the London Marathon 2027 to help fund more of it. I’ll be running for my niece, my family, and the thousands of families across the UK facing this diagnosis every year.

Every donation goes directly toward research that improves survival rates, provides kinder treatments with less harmful side effects, and gives more families hope. Thank you for anything you’re able to give.