A man who lost his sister-in-law to an aggressive brain tumour has completed the London Marathon to raise funds for vital research into the disease.

Adam Ramadhen joined tens of thousands of runners taking part in the world’s biggest running event on Sunday 22^nd April for the charity Brain Tumour Research after Ria Kelly, sister of Adam’s wife, Aissa, passed away from a brain tumour in 2013 at the age of 31.

Ria, who lived in Coxheath, Maidstone, was just 27 and given only six months to live when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a high-grade brain tumour in 2009. Over a period of four years, Ria had brain surgery on two occasions, as well as gruelling radiotherapy and numerous rounds of chemotherapy.   

Adam, 31, who lives in Tonbridge, Kent, and has never run a marathon before said: “Completing the London Marathon is such a personal achievement for me. I watched Ria fight this cruel disease with true determination and even with the odds against her, she still managed to smile every day, be extremely positive and try to bring happiness to all those around her. My marathon was all about her.”

“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 £6,500 so far for Brain Tumour Research is such a great feeling.”

Adam 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 Adam 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.

Tim Green, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer -  and more women under 35 than breast 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 Ria’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We are extremely grateful for Adam’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 Adam’s JustGiving

 

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.