A Fundraising Group known as Raising4Ria has been set up by Kaz Melvin to continue her sister’s legacy and to help channel the grief of all who mourn Ria into something positive to improve the lives of others living with a brain tumour diagnosis.
Ria was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) aged just 23 and underwent brain surgery twice, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as accessing pioneering immunotherapy treatment in Germany. Sadly nothing could save her and Ria passed away aged 25, two years and seven months after diagnosis.
At Brain Tumour Research, we remember Ria as a great campaigner, engaging with her local MP Alex Burghart, who at the time was private parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Kaz said: “During her brain tumour journey, Ria carried out selfless, valuable work raising awareness of brain tumours to fight for improved treatment options to work towards a cure. We do not want Ria to die in vain so we are going to keep fundraising in her memory.”
One of Raising4Ria’s first fundraising events was a cycle ride from Loughborough University, where Ria had graduated with a first class degree in Sports Management, to her hometown of Brentwood in Essex, which raised in excess of £11,000.
To support Raising4Ria’s fundraising please donate via the Group’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/Raising4Ria
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