A mum of two from Rochester is taking on the London Marathon to raise awareness for Brain Tumour Research, after a friend’s daughter was eventually diagnosed with the disease following 22 doctor’s appointments.

Joining tens of thousands of runners, Esther Moore, aged 40, was inspired to take part in the world’s biggest running event after Poppy Eden, was diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma at the age of 11.

Poppy, from Chatham, started suffering from sickness and headaches in 2013 however it wasn’t until three years later that an MRI scan identified a low-grade non-cancerous brain tumour as the cause. Doctors operated immediately in January 2016 and were able to remove 60 per cent of the tumour. Poppy, who is now 13, has since recovered from surgery and returned to school at Fort Pitt, but still has regular scans to monitor the tumour.

Esther said: “I chose to run for Brain Tumour Research because the disease is so prevalent and yet not many people realise how underfunded research into brain tumours is. Poppy’s diagnosis was a horrible shock to everyone; it’s been especially hard for her mum Karen and dad Tony to go through. Poppy has been extremely brave throughout it all, and thankfully she is able to live the life of a normal teenager, but some children with brain tumours aren’t as fortunate.

“Poppy continues to raise money for research into the disease and has inspired me to now do my bit for the cause. I’ve been to the marathon before as an observer and really enjoyed it, and now I can’t wait to be joining the thousands of other runners taking on the race!”

Esther will be pounding the streets of the capital on Sunday 22^nd April and Poppy and her family will be in the crowd cheering Esther along the way. The money she 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: “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer – and more children than leukaemia, 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 Poppy’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We are extremely grateful to Esther for her support and we wish her the best of luck for the marathon. Together we will find a cure.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Esther’s fundraising page go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=EstMoore&pageUrl=1  

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.