A physiotherapist from Cleveland is taking on the Yorkshire Marathon following a friend’s devastating brain tumour diagnosis.

Between running her own business and caring for two children, Beth Williamson, 40, is training for the 26.2 mile challenge in honour of her close friend, Ann Brown, who is undergoing treatment for a highly aggressive brain tumour.

Hartlepool mum-of-two, Ann, suffered from a sudden seizure in July and the 53-year-old was subsequently diagnosed with an inoperable, grade four glioblastoma multiforme. Ann, who works as a debt advisor for the Citizens Advice Bureau, is now undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy to improve her prognosis.

Beth, who will be running on Sunday 14^th October alongside her husband Daniel, said: “I’m apprehensive about the marathon but I made a promise to Ann that I’d run and raise awareness of this horrible disease and raise vital funds. It’s heart-breaking to see how this diagnosis is affecting her and her family but her strength, grace and determination to fight the tumour inspire me.”

The business-owner, who works as a paediatric physiotherapist, is also inspired by the young brain tumour patients she has treated. Beth added: “I’ve worked with children who have been left with life-changing disabilities and injuries because of brain tumours but I was shocked to hear that the disease kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.”

Matthew Price, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We wish Beth and Daniel the best of luck for their marathon challenge and we’re extremely grateful that they have chosen to run for the charity. Sadly, Ann’s story is not uncommon and I hope more people will be inspired to help fund the fight against this devastating disease.

“The money raised helps us to build a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally. Together we will find a cure.”

To sponsor Beth and Daniel, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/beth-williamson1

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
• Historically, 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.