THE DAUGHTERS of a woman who died from a brain tumour are funding work to help find a cure for the disease.

Joanne Ross and Amanda Glover travelled from their homes in Guiseley to the Brain Tumour Research charity’s Research Centre of Excellence at Imperial College, London, to see how the funds they raised are helping scientists.

The sisters lost their mum Pamela Lupton, at the age of 73, less than two years after her diagnosis with an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Pamela, a retired medical secretary, underwent two operations, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Following her death, daughter Joanne went on to raise more than £4,000 towards research into the disease.

Joanne, 45, said: “The disease took hold of Mum so quickly, it was terrifying to witness and I can only imagine how terrifying it was for her to experience. I was shocked at how limited her options were and I soon realised that this is the case for thousands of other patients too.”

Last week Joanne and Amanda were given a tour of the research facility at Hammersmith Hospital and heard from lead scientist Dr Nelofer Syed about the work taking place there. They met Kevin O’Neill, a leading neuro-surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital who told them about how the research work was being translated into new surgical tools, such as the iKnife, which can differentiate between tumour and normal brain cells during surgery.

Joanne said: “I threw myself into fundraising after Mum died as I knew I needed to do something to improve this desperate situation for others. I organised a charity ball in her memory and I’m pleased to have raised more than £4,000 in the process but touring the lab at Imperial College has reminded me that there is still so far to go. I hope I can raise awareness and encourage others to get behind such an important cause.”

In recognition of the funds she raised in support of Brain Tumour Research, Joanne also placed a tile on the Wall of Hope at Imperial College where each tile represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research.

Matthew Price, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Thank you to Joanne and Amanda for their ongoing support. They have raised a fantastic amount in Pamela’s memory and they have helped to fund the vital work taking place at our research centres.

“Pamela’s story reminds us that less than 20 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers. Despite this, historically just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. We cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.”

The charity funds research at centres in the UK; it also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.