The Exmouth family of a great-grandmother who died from an aggressive brain tumour have fundraised a day of medical research in her memory.
Claire Airzee, died four months after she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, prompting her daughter, Amanda Longbottom, of Exmouth, to raise £2,740 to pay for a day’s research into the disease.
Amanda, who with her family has been fundraising for the Brain Tumour Research charity, joined her husband, Brian, her brother Byron Airzee, and former Exmouth mayor, Brian Cole, to place a commemorative tile on the University of Plymouth’s wall of hope.
The tile represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research and means Claire’s legacy lives on in the city where she was born.
Councillor Cole, who previously chose the Brain Tumour Research charity to support as mayor, joined Claire’s family to meet university scientists searching for a brain tumour cure.
Claire, from Plymouth, was in November 2017 diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) – a highly aggressive type of brain tumour – after suffering a seizure. She died four months later, aged 84.
Amanda said: “When Mum was diagnosed, it turned her life upside down and inside out and trying to help her cope with this had a devastating impact on our lives too.
“Having witnessed the devastating impact of a brain tumour, I was determined to help make a difference to others in a similar situation.
“Fundraising has given me a real sense of purpose over the past year and I was proud to see Mum’s name on the wall of hope.”
Councillor Cole said: “During my second term of office, I nominated Brian Tumour Research as my mayoral charity.
“I was truly grateful to Amanda and her family, alongside the businesses and residents of Exmouth, for joining me to support the charity and it was fantastic to help raise awareness of brain tumours in the community.”
Since her mum died, Amanda has been fundraising thanks to support from Withycombe Raleigh residents; a cake and coffee morning and Brain Tumour Research’s annual wear-a-hat-day.
Amy White, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, said the charity was ‘extremely thankful’ for the ongoing support of Amanda and her family.
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