A former Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police is being remembered by his daughter at the London Marathon 2018.

Malcolm Hill lost a three-year battle against a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive brain tumour with an average life expectancy of just 15 months. This month, in her father’s memory, Nicola Hill will take on the world’s most famous running event on Sunday 22^nd April to raise funds for research into the devastating disease.

In his time as a Chief Superintendent, Malcolm served in stations across the capital including Scotland Yard. Starting as a Metropolitan Police Cadet at the age of 17, Malcolm quickly rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in the force.

In retirement, Malcolm was an active member of the local community in Surrey, organising the annual Sunbury Open Gardens and was also a judge at the Chelsea Flower Show. Despite a six-week course of daily radiotherapy and medication to control the tumour, Malcolm passed away on the 9^th July 2016 aged 68, leaving his wife, Jean, two daughters and three grandchildren.

Nicola, who lives in Greenwich and works as a partner at Kingsley Napley LLP law firm, is aiming to raise £5,500 in his memory for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research which funds a network of dedicated Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Nicola will be pounding the streets of the capital in 10 days alongside tens of thousands of runners in the world’s most famous running event. Nicola said: “Having lived in Deptford and Greenwich over the years, my husband and I have always watched the London Marathon and admired everyone taking part.

“I decided to enter for a place with Brain Tumour Research as it’s a cause really close to my heart. Losing Dad to this disease has been devastating, and I have colleagues who have been diagnosed or affected too. It shocks me how prevalent brain tumours are and yet only 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to finding a cure.

“It’s safe to say I’m not a natural runner – I’ve started from zero with this marathon challenge but it will all be worth it when I cross the finish line and make a big donation to Brain Tumour Research.”

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer – and more men under 45 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

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

“We are extremely grateful to Nicola for her support and wish her luck for the event. The money raised from the London Marathon will go towards pioneering research that is taking place at our Centres of Excellence including those at Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College. Together we will find a cure.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Nicola’s JustGiving page go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicola-hill33

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 focused on funding sustainable research to find a cure for brain tumours. We are building a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, £5.5 million was raised towards research and support during 2016.

We are campaigning to see the national spend on research into brain tumours increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia. The charity is celebrating a year of high-profile campaigning on this issue following the unprecedented success of its petition in 2016. Following that, Brain Tumour Research is now taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research.

Key statistics on brain tumours:

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

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