Ambitious Ava’s marathon triumph in memory of uncle

Brain Tumour Research

1 min read

An ambitious 10-year-old has completed a marathon over 10 days to raise money to help find a cure for the disease which killed her uncle.

Ava Oakes, who is more used to ballet dancing and playing netball, clocked up the 26 miles trail running in the woods near her home in Burghfield Common, Berkshire, running three or four miles a day. She finished her challenge the day before Liam North was laid to rest.

Liam lived in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, and leaves a wife Heidi and children Isabelle, 11, and Oliver, nine. He was diagnosed with a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma brain tumour five years ago. He had chemotherapy and radiotherapy but the treatment was stopped when it was revealed it was not working. He passed away on 29 May at the age of 47.

Ava initially set out to raise £1,000 but has more than doubled that. She is now well on the way to achieve £2,740 which represents the amount it costs to fund a day of research at one of the Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

She said: “My Uncle Liam died as his brain tumour could not be treated or cured. Now I am very sad for my cousins as they do not have a Dad any more. There is not enough money being spent on research into brain tumours. It was not fair that the doctors didn’t have any new medicines to give to my uncle to try and make him better, or even just to stop him from getting more poorly.”

To make a donation to Ava’s JustGiving page please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AvaOakes