Weybridge woman completes London Marathon in memory of beloved uncle lost to neglected cancer

A Weybridge woman who lost her beloved uncle to a brain tumour completed the London Marathon to support vital research into the neglected cancer which took him.

Kirsty Finch, 32 lost her uncle, Duncan Scott, of Esher, two days after Christmas last year after he had battled with an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme brain tumour for around 18 months. 

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer but just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. The charity is striving to fund a network of seven dedicated research centres whilst challenging the government and larger cancer charities to invest more in brain tumour research.

Kirsty is currently on maternity leave from an accountancy firm, having given birth to her son Edward six months ago.  She explained: “My uncle was an amazing man, who was extremely intelligent, kind and thoughtful.  He was always very healthy and fit, but when he didn’t seem to be recovering as he should from a cycling accident and then began dragging his left foot, he was referred to a neurologist. 

“We were all devastated when an MRI scan revealed he had a brain tumour and were left reeling after he had a full craniotomy and we discovered that the tumour was in fact the most deadly – a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme.”

Kirsty’s mother, Gayle Scott, an Interior Designer in Surbiton, helped to care for her brother during his illness and accompanied him to practically all his hospital appointments.  In the latter months of his battle, she found his increasing unhappiness and paranoia very difficult to witness, along with the struggle to find the correct dose of medication required to keep him from his mental anguish. 

Gayle said: “Duncan’s passing has left a huge hole in my life, as well as the many people whose lives he touched.  His funeral was extremely well attended with many people voicing how he had “changed their lives for the better”.  It seems so unfair that he was taken in his prime, aged just 55, with so much joy to have and to give. I miss him dreadfully.”

Kirsty concluded: “Treatments for patients like Duncan are very limited. I am a member of Weybridge Health Club and I hope that by running the London Marathon I have helped to raise awareness of this awful and indiscriminate disease and draw attention to the dreadful under-funding of research which has gone on for far too long.

“I am proud to have completed the marathon in a time of three hours, 40 minutes and 47 seconds, well and truly beating my target time of four hours!

“A big thank you to all who have helped to bring my fundraising total to over £1,200 to date – it’s not too late to add your donation!  Duncan was my inspiration all-round the 26-mile course.  I would love a cure for brain tumours to be found in his memory.” 

Carol Robertson, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Stories like Duncan’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We are extremely grateful to Kirsty for her support which will help us get nearer to finding a cure and bring hope to families in the future who have a loved one diagnosed with this cruel disease.”

To find out more about how to support the charity Brain Tumour Research contact Community Fundraising Manager Carol Robertson carol@braintumourresearch.org

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Kirsty’s fundraising page, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kirstyfinchmarathon
Brain Tumour Research is campaigning to see the national spend on brain tumour research increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast and leukaemia, in order to advance treatments, and ultimately find a cure.
www.braintumourresearch.org

Article supplied by Liz Fussey