Ilford fitness manager runs London Marathon for Brain Tumour Research

Kerrie Lawrence lost four friends to brain cancer in just 14 months (Credit: Brain Tumour Research)

A fitness manager from Ilford has run the London Marathon in memory of four of her friends who all died of brain cancer over the last 14 months. 

Kerrie Lawrence, who runs the Nuffield Health Chingford Fitness and Wellbeing Gym, completed the iconic 26.2 mile race in five hours, eight minutes and 23 seconds on Sunday, 2 October.

She decided to support the charity Brain Tumour Research after Ria Melvin, the daughter of her friend Carol, died of glioblastoma in August 2021 at the age of 25. 

Three more of her friends have since died from the same aggressive brain tumour, the last just a month ago. 

Kerrie described the atmosphere as “amazing” (Credit: Brain Tumour Research)

Kerrie said: “I took on this challenge to raise as much money as possible for research into what is a cruel and unforgiving disease.”

Of the race, she added: “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Once I’d done 20 miles, I told myself the last six was just another 10k. I felt quite emotional at the end, though, from about mile 24. The atmosphere was amazing with everyone cheering my name. I’ve done half marathons before but nothing like this; it was amazing.”

Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “One in three people know someone affected by a brain tumour but to have known four is heart-breaking and explains why Kerrie felt compelled to take on such a tough challenge.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet, historically, just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. This has got to change; together we will find a cure.”

Anyone who would like to donate to Kerrie’s fundraising total can do so online here. 

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