My darling husband and father to my three children; Paige, Mary and Guy lost his battle to Glioblastoma brain tumours on 14th October 2023. David Bicker-Caarten was the life and soul of every party; he was clever, kind, positive and loved life in every way. He was first and foremost a family man and loved nothing better than spending time with us all. He was the headmaster of Lucton School and wanted to make it excel with passionate teachers, and children who wanted to learn. He had so much more to give, and so many more dreams to live.

David’s glioblastoma was particularly difficult to diagnose, being deep in his cerebellum. The doctors seemed convinced it was a secondary cancer. After receiving the results from his first MRI scan on 30th July telling us he had a mass, they continued to test and scan to no avail. After finally carrying out a biopsy on 25th September we received the devastating news on the 5th October that there were four tumours, all inoperable and untreatable. He died just over a week later.

The shock and grief the children and I have felt has left us broken. Those of you that know us, will know what a tight knit family we were, and his dying has left an unbelievable hole. To try and focus on something positive, we have decided to run the London Marathon in 2025 in memory of ‘Dave’ for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

This is the only charity that carries out medical research into this particular Glioblastoma, so this is where we are concentrating our efforts.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, with historically only 1% of money into cancer research going to brain tumour research. It costs £2,740 for one day of research at one of the Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence. We are aiming to raise £14,000 to run as a family for this devasting killer and this is where you come in.

Please, please help. No amount is too small and every penny will be so appreciated by us all.

Thank you to all who have already donated; our wonderful family and friends, and the amazing staff, parents and children of Lucton School.

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face and the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.”