A lawyer from Greenwich has completed the London Marathon in memory of her father who died from a brain tumour.

Nicola Hill lost her father, Malcolm, after a three-year battle against a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive brain tumour with an average life expectancy of just 15 months. Malcolm, a former Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan police, had his retirement cut short after being diagnosed with the devastating disease, and was aged 68 when he passed away in July 2016.

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

Inspired by her father’s illness, Nicola ran in the world’s most famous running event to raise awareness and funds for the pioneering charity, Brain Tumour Research.

Nicola, who works as a partner at Kingsley Napley LLP law firm, said: “I’m so happy that I’ve completed the marathon, I have such a sense of achievement; it’s an event that I’ve always wanted to do and now I can finally say that I have.

“More importantly, I’m raising much-needed funds for research into brain tumours so that fewer people have to go through what Dad did, and so that one day a cure is found. I am hoping to raise over £8,000 which will fund scientists at one of the Centres of Excellence for three days.”

Nicola was one of 40,000 runners taking part in the event which was started by The Queen from the grounds of Windsor Castle. It was the 38^th London Marathon to take place since the first on 29^th March 1981.

The money Nicola raises will go towards 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.

Michael Thelwall, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Nicola’s determination and commitment are fantastic and I hope her story will provide inspiration to others whose lives have been affected by a brain tumour.

“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.

“For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Experiences like Malcolm’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We are extremely grateful to Nicola and offer our congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s event to raise money for charity.”

Make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Nicola’s JustGiving page.

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 have established a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, over £6 million was raised towards research and support during 2017.

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 unprecedented success of our 2015 petition led to the 2016 Westminster Hall debate and Brain Tumour Research taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research with the report being published in 2018.

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 in the UK 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.