8-year-old Chichester girl raises over £3,000 for Brain Tumour Charity in memory of her Gramps

Ava Tunnicliffe, a pupil at Oakwood Prep School, set out to run 26 miles in December to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity following her grandfather’s sudden diagnosis with a brain tumour.

Ian Russell, known to his grandchildren as Gramps, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive types of brain tumour, in May 2020 and sadly died just a few days into Ava’s marathon challenge – but Ava vowed to keep going.

Ava said: “Gramps being ill with a brain tumour made me want to do something positive to help other people with brain tumours.

“Sadly, it could not be cured. He was so brave and had not complained once about this horrible tumour.

“I wanted to do something to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity so that maybe in the future other Grampses and their families might not need to experience brain tumours.”

Over the course of the month Ava ran as often as she could to increase her total, roping in her mum and dad, Chloe and Kieran, and her older brother Luke – as well as the family dog, Freddie – for runs around her home town.

Kieran said: “We are incredibly proud of Ava. 2020 was really hard for lots of people, for a variety of reasons, and to see acts of positivity and generosity is providing some much needed hope.”

Staff and teachers from her school, Oakwood Prep School, also joined her for a few miles in the school grounds.

Ava finished her challenge on New Year’s Eve on the beach at West Wittering, one of Ian’s favourite places to spend time with his family.

Although Covid restrictions did not allow them to be there in person, family members were able to celebrate with her on Zoom.

Ava said: “I did it! I ran a marathon and ended outside the beach hut. It was a really sunny day and Gramps would’ve loved to have been there.”

Ava originally set a fundraising target of £100, but has now raised £3,105 – and inspired her cousins to set up their own challenges in memory of Gramps.

Geraldine Pipping, The Brain Tumour Charity’s head of fundraising, said: “We are grateful for all the efforts made by our fantastic fundraisers.

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 40 years.

“We are leading the way in changing this by fighting brain tumours on all fronts.

“We receive no government funding and rely 100 per cent on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of people like Ava, that we can change these shocking statistics in the future.”

To donate to Ava’s fundraiser for The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of her Gramps, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ava-pops

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