Daughter dives in to swimming challenge in memory of dad

Brain Tumour Research

2 min read

A woman who “gave up her whole life” to care for her dad after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour has taken on a swimming challenge to raise funds in his memory.

Rebecca Dandridge completed the two-miles Swim Serpentine in Hyde Park on Saturday (14^th September). She was raising money for Brain Tumour Research inspired by her father, Michael, who died of a glioblastoma (GBM) in November 2023.

Following Michael’s diagnosis and after being told that it was terminal, Rebecca quit her job to become his full-time carer.

“Dad was very accepting of his prognosis, but I burst into tears when the doctors said there was nothing they could do. From that moment I gave up my whole life and vowed to look after him,” Rebecca said.

Rebecca, who used to swim competitively when she was younger, suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and took to swimming once again as an adult to manage her own mental health.

She said: “Dad would watch me swimming in competitions when I was younger and during the two-and-a-half months I cared for him at the end of his life, I got back in the water, and it felt right to do something like this in his memory.”

Her fundraising currently stands at more than £1,600. If you’d like to support her efforts, there’s still time to donate via her JustGiving page.

Rebecca added: “Dad would be proud. He often watched me swim when I was younger, and this felt like a fitting tribute to him whilst raising awareness of this devastating disease.

“For me, it’s so important to support a charity such as Brain Tumour Research because it receives such little funding compared to other cancers. That’s a disgrace. Doctors told us there is no cure for brain cancer. If there was adequate investment into research funding, then there would be a better chance of keeping families together.”