A Wimbledon couple are embarking on a 170 kilometre bike ride in France from Dieppe to Paris, to help fund pioneering research into brain tumours.

Retired school teacher, Kate Huckin, 64, will take on the challenge on Friday 25^th May 2018 alongside her husband, Tom Huckin, a 66-year-old former software company director, his sister Alison Lacey and her husband Neville. The challenge is being held in memory of Tom and Alison’s father, who passed away from a brain tumour, just two weeks after diagnosis, when they were young.

Having already raised over £1,700 for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research to invest in research into this devastating disease, they have all been training hard for the ride.

Tom said: “I was a teenager when my father was diagnosed and it all started when he began experiencing severe headaches, nausea and fainting episodes. Initially we thought it was epilepsy, but further tests showed that he had an inoperable brain tumour. He was only 44 when he died, which definitely inspired our family to help others who may also be affected.”

Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, they 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.

“We are aiming to complete the cycle in two days, cycling 35 miles on the first afternoon, 70 miles the day after and another 35 miles on the final morning to the Arc de Triomphe” added Kate. "It has taken us around six months to prepare for the ride, so we are really excited now and proud to have already beaten our £300 target.”

“I’m sure it will be a big challenge to take on, but I am pleased that I’m making new memories with a great group by my side. We hope our efforts will help raise awareness of this awful disease and draw attention to the underfunding of research which has gone on for far too long.” 

Janice Wright, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We really appreciate Kate, her co-riders and support group for organising the Dieppe to Paris bike ride. For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer and we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. Sadly, less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers."

“The money raised from the event will help to fund the work, including the research being done at our Centre of Excellence in Imperial College London."

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

For further information, please contact:

Annie Slinn at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867239 or 07591 206545 or annie.slinn@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 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.