A woman from Darlington has completed the Great North Run to fundraise for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

Bekki Mullett took part in the world’s biggest half marathon following the diagnosis and death of her auntie, Linda Egginton. Bekki, a 27-year-old dental nurse, was motivated to cross the finish line by the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Linda was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) – a highly aggressive type of brain tumour – after being taken to A&E with a suspected stroke. In the weeks prior to her diagnosis, the 59-year-old teaching assistant had been distressed, confused and unable to complete simple tasks such as planning lessons. Her GP prescribed anti-depressants, but when her left-side became limp and she started to slur her words, Linda was rushed to Darlington Memorial Hospital. She underwent radiotherapy but Linda died in January 2013, just three months after her diagnosis.

Bekki said: “I’m so happy I’ve completed the Great North Run. It’s the longest distance I’ve ever run so I’m really pleased. Knowing that I’ve raised money for charity in Linda’s memory makes my medal all the more special.”

Bekki was among thousands of runners taking part in the annual Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon. A team of 42 took part to raise 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.

Matthew Price, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Stories like Linda’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.

“Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone, at any age, at any time. What’s more, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 that any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.”

To sponsor Bekki, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bekki-mullett1

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