A daughter from Chester is taking part in the world’s largest half marathon to raise money for research into the disease that claimed her dad’s life.

Julie Lowe is taking part in the Great North Run in support of the Brain Tumour Research charity following the death of her dad on Valentine’s Day 2017. The 31-year-old is motivated by the fact that less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.

Ian Lowe, a taxi driver from South Shields, was diagnosed with an aggressive CNS lymphoma after becoming very forgetful and collapsing in January 2017. The treatment options for Ian were extremely bleak and he died just two months later at the age of 56, one week after starting an antibody treatment.

Julie, a dental nurse at White Friars House Dental Practice in Chester, said: “I’ve never run a half marathon before but I’m really excited for the challenge. There have been a lot of early morning training sessions and although it’s tough, it’s a fantastic opportunity to raise money for a great cause.

“As I watched Dad suffer, without complaining, I was struck by how awful brain tumours are. I want to honour his extraordinary bravery in the face of the cruellest illness and to support vital research into improved treatments and, ultimately, a cure.”

Joined by her partner Rich, Julie will be among thousands of runners taking part in the annual Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon. This year’s event takes place on 9^th September, with runners taking their marks in Newcastle city centre before setting off on the 13.1 mile course and finishing at the coast in South Shields.

A team of 42 will be taking part and raising money for Brain Tumour Research, which funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Andrea Pankiw, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful for Julie and Rich’s support and wish them all the best for the event. Ian’s story reminds us all that less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers. We cannot allow this situation to continue.”

To sponsor Julie, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julie-lowe14

For further information, please contact:
Farel Williams at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867221 or 07592 502708 or Farel.Williams@braintumourresearch.org

Notes to Editors

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours, and we are a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer.

We are building a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally.

We welcome recent funding announcements for research into brain tumours from the UK Government and Cancer Research UK – £65 million pledged over the next five years. However, this potential funding of £13 million a year comes with a catch – money will only be granted to quality research proposals and, due to the historic lack of investment, there may not be enough of these applications that qualify for grants from this pot.

We want research funding parity with breast cancer and leukaemia. We are calling for a £30-35 million investment every year for research into brain tumours in order to fund the basic research groundwork needed to accelerate the translation from laboratory discoveries into clinical trials and fast-track new therapies for this devastating disease.

The Brain Tumour Research charity is a powerful campaigning organisation and represents the voice of the brain tumour community across the UK. We helped establish and provide the ongoing Secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Brain Tumours (APPGBT). We are supporting the crucial APPGBT 2018 Inquiry into the economic and social impacts of brain tumours and will publish their report in the autumn. We are also a key influencer in the development strategy for the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. 

Key statistics on brain tumours:

• Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age
• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer
• Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours
• In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour
• Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia
• Brain tumours kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer
• Brain tumours kill more women under 35 than breast cancer
• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers

Please quote Brain Tumour Research as the source when using this information. Additional facts and statistics are available from our website. We can also provide case studies and research expertise for the media.