A university student who lost his dad to a brain tumour has completed the London Marathon, to raise funds for research into the disease.

Joining tens of thousands of runners, William Rennicks, 22, from Dudley, was inspired to take part in the world’s biggest running event on Sunday 22^nd April for the charity Brain Tumour Research after his dad, Robert Rennicks, passed away from an aggressive brain tumour in 2016.

Robert was 56 when he was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour in June 2016 after suffering from a seizure at the family home.  Due to the aggressive nature of the tumour and its location, surgery wasn’t an option and treatment was limited. Unfortunately, Robert died less than six months later leaving William, daughter Emily and his wife of over 30 years, Gaynor.

William, who is studying for a degree in Economics at the University of Surrey in Guildford, said: “Completing the London Marathon is such a personal achievement for me. I’m sure my dad would be really proud that I took part, but as he was a keen cyclist, I’m sure he would have wanted me to be on a bike!

“Cancer is such a horrible disease and although over 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK, little is still known about the disease. Just knowing I’ve raised over £4,000 so far for Brain Tumour Research is such a great feeling.”

William 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 William has raised 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: “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. Stories like Robert’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We are extremely grateful for William’s support 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 William’s JustGiving page.

For further information, please contact:
Lexie Jenkins at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867222 or 07591 206545 or Lexie.Jenkins@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.