A woman from Castleton has taken part in the Great North Run, honouring her close friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumour just weeks after giving birth.

Steph Raw, 32, was running to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity after her friend, Lizzi Snaith, 37, was diagnosed 10 years ago. Lizzi was due to take part in the Great North Run alongside Steph, however a recent regrowth of the tumour meant she had to pull out of the race.

After suffering from headaches and nausea while she was pregnant, Lizzi, who lives in Danby, North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with an anaplastic astroblastoma in 2008, aged 27. Just weeks after giving birth to her daughter Katie, she had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to remove the tumour but, devastatingly, a recent CT scan showed that the tumour had returned.

Steph, an office worker, said: “After Lizzi was diagnosed, I was shocked to discover 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. This motivated me to fundraise for this vital cause.

“In addition to taking on the Great North Run, I have also helped to run a quiz night and raffle for Brain Tumour Research. It was gutting that Lizzi couldn’t run with me on the day but I know she would be very proud of me and hope I have inspired others to raise money for research into brain tumours.”

Steph was among thousands of runners taking part in the annual Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon. This year’s event took 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 took part and raised money for the Brain Tumour Research charity which funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Carol Robertson, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful for Steph’s support and congratulate her in completing the event. Lizzi’s story reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate and we hope she inspires others to fundraise for this woefully underfunded cancer. 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 Steph, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steph-raw1

For further information, please contact:
Annie Slinn at the Brain Tumour Research charity on 01908 867239 or 07591 206545 or annie.slinn@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.