Buy a hat pin to help vital brain research

Indefatigable campaigner Nicole Philips, 44, of The Green said: “We’re suggesting a donaton of £1.

“They’ll also be on sale at MC Bookkeeping and Rubies Shoes.

“And we’re hoping parents and supporters will put another date in their diary - Saturday, June 25 – for our Big Summer Marquee Party, to be held at Pulford School.

“It’s from 8pm until midnight with dancing to Tess and the Durbervilles, There’ll be a bar and a raffle and all proceeds will go to Brain Tumour Research.

“Tickets cost £15 each from the school.”

The former beauty company area manager has just discovered that the brain tumour she’d thought she’d beaten has returned.

And she’s determined to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

She said: “I want everyone to know how poorly funded research is into this cancer which kills more people under 40 than any other form.

“It’s sometimes described as the ‘orphan’ disease because so little is known about it.”

The former Vandyke Upper student is also keen to raise awareness of the symptoms because many GPs don’t recognise the signs, as she sadly found out.

She was treated for hearing loss, sinusitis and depression – as well as being asked if she was on drink or drugs – before a correct diagnosis was made when scans revealed she had a massive tumour after suffering a fit.

She subsequently founded Head 1st, a charity she created under the Brain Tumour Trust umbrella.