Doing it all for Dad: Amy Dunnett's story

I am running the Virgin London Marathon 2012 for Brain Tumour UK in memory of my dad, Peter Dunnett, who my family and I lost in 1998 to a brain tumour, aged only 48.

Dad was a family man with a great sense of humour, incredibly well loved by everyone who knew him. Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 1998, when my little sister (the youngest of five of us Dunnett kids) was only four months old. Despite a brave and determined battle, Dad was taken from us in on 1 November 1998, just six months after being diagnosed with cancer.

His loss left our family devastated. Over the years since then we have gained strength and a sense of purpose through holding various events to raise money for cancer charities such as Brain Tumour UK. Many of Dad’s old friends came to our Charity Christmas Fair which we held in December 2011 for Brain Tumour UK, where over £1,000 was donated on the gate, and over £4,000 was raised on the day!

Brain Tumour UK are determined to raise awareness of this forgotten cancer and provide much needed support to suffers and their families, as well as funding research into more effective treatments for brain tumours. I know the money raised will really make a difference. Today my family are closer and stronger than ever and running the marathon is a team effort between all us Dunnetts! I may be running the race on the day, but I know it's my family’s support behind the scenes that has helped get me there, and helped so much with all my fundraising! On marathon day, I will be running for Dad, for my family and for all the kind, generous people that have donated money to Brain Tumour UK.

Help me to raise as much as possible for Brain Tumour UK.