MORE than £6,000 has been raised to help fund research into a brain tumour cure by a Berkeley father who lost his son to the disease.

Alan Stanton was 30 years old when he died, leaving behind his wife Lucy and five-month-old Joshua.

In his memory, John Stanton has organised a series of events and arranged for it to be the charity of the year for the Rotary Club of Cotswold Tyndale when he was its president, raising enough money to support more than two full days of work for Brain Tumour Research.

He visited the charity's centre at Queen Mary University of London along with his wife Jean and Alan's twin brother Charles last week to place two tiles on its 'Wall of Hope' in recognition of the contribution.

John said: “Alan was a wonderful son, father and friend. Seeing his name on the Wall of Hope was a special moment for us as a family.

"Being at the research centre and seeing what they are doing here, really draws attention to the cost of research and work that needs to be conducted to find a cure for brain tumours.”

Led by professor Silvia Marino, in collaboration with University College London, the team at the centre are studying glioblastoma tumours – one of the most aggressive and deadly types of brain cancer, and the tumour that Alan died from.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and research carried out by the charity has found that fewer than 20 per cent of people diagnosed with one survive beyond five years.

Carol Robertson, the charity's community fundraising manager (south), said: “We are really grateful to John and the club for raising vital funds to support important research into a disease which affects so many people and their families each year.

"Stories like Alan’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.”

For more information about its work, visit braintumourresearch.org