In August 2020 Nick's sister Mary was visiting her twin sister in Spain. Whilst there, Mary became unwell and received the devastating diagnosis of a Glioblastoma Multiforme brain tumour. She was transported home by land ambulance to the Walton Centre in Liverpool and had the first of her surgeries to remove this tumour. Post surgery Mary underwent gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy - always positive, always giving everything she could in her fight to stay alive and all whilst continuing to be the best mum to her then 7 year old son. This kept the cancer at bay for a short time and we all prayed Mary would be one of those success stories. Sadly this was not to be the case and the tumour returned and Mary underwent surgery for a second time to remove it. Her final scan post-second surgery and before she could start any more chemotherapy gave us the heartbreaking news that the cancer had very quickly come back again and had spread into parts of the brain which could not be operated on.

Mary was a much loved and inspirational teacher/Head of Department at her local high school, Childwall Sports and Science Academy in Liverpool. She was warm, funny, caring and always put other people first. Throughout her life she raised thousands for charity and other causes close to her heart and was always the life and soul of the party willing to do whatever she could to help and raise money for those less fortunate than her. Right up to the end she was raising money for Clatterbridge Hospital in Liverpool, still putting others first despite her battle for her own life.

The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 12 to 18 months.

On 23rd April 2022, after fighting this disease heroically, Mary passed away peacefully at home at the age of 43 leaving her 9 year old son behind.

Glioblastoma Multiforme 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.

In memory of Mary, and to raise much needed funds for research, in June 2023 (6th to 18th) we are walking the Portuguese Camino Way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela (280km). It is too late for Mary and for our family but maybe the money we raise will go towards a breakthrough so others don't have to suffer like Mary did and like we (and all of Mary's family and friends having to live with her loss) still are.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for helping us to raise funds to support https://www.braintumourresearch.org/ .