STUART Skidmore from Tenbury will take to the streets of London in memory of his father Stephen.

Stephen Skidmore, who lived in Burford, died just over a year after being taken ill on holiday in Crete.

He was flown home in an air ambulance after being diagnosed with a brain tumour but despite a major operation followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy he died at the age of 62.

Stuart, aged 36, who lives in Tenbury ran the London Marathon last year but it will be the first time for his sister Rebecca Baker, 38, who is a partner with Connells Estate Agents in Hereford.

This time Stuart is running for the charity ‘Children with Cancer’ and Rebecca for ‘The Brain Tumour Charity.’ Last year Stuart raised £7,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Rebecca and her husband were with her mum and dad on holiday in Crete in September 2011.

“We had been out for dinner and dad had a headache most of the day which we put down to the flight,” said Rebecca.

“On the way back from the meal, dad, who was driving, scraped the car on a wall but they were narrow roads and so we did not think too much of it. But when he got back to the villa he said he could not see the gates.

“The following day he went to hospital in Crete and we were told he had an inoperable brain tumour.

“He was flown back in an aircraft to Gatwick and immediately taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. The surgeon did operate two days later but could not take away all of the tumour and dad had follow up treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.”

In the following year Stephen completely lost his sight in one eye, became epileptic and diabetic and also developed blood clots on his lungs.

Stuart and Rebecca say that as well as raising money they also want to increase awareness of brain tumours that kill 5,000 people a year and is a major cancer for younger people and children.

“Of the £500 million raised for cancer research each year only two per cent goes to brain tumour charities although it is a major killer,” added Rebecca.

“Brian tumours reduce life expectancy by an average of 20 years and only 14 per cent of adults diagnosed with the disease live five years or more. Unfortunately, for many people it is too late by the time that symptoms become apparent.

“I started training on New Year’s Day and managed a minute but now I am up to seven miles. It is hard but nothing like what my Dad went through.”

Rebecca hopes that she will be able to complete the marathon that takes place on April 26 in between five and six hours but she says that Stuart, who will be building on his run in 2014, is aiming for a time of about four hours and 20 minutes.

People wanting to donate to Stuart should visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stuartSkidmore1 and for Rebecca it is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/becsmarathonmission