A medical student will fly from America to London to run a marathon in memory of her father who died from a brain tumour.

Katya Strage, originally from Sevenoaks, was just four when her dad was diagnosed with a grade four anaplastic astrocytoma.

David Strage was initially told he had just six months to live but thanks to the tireless efforts of his medical team, he lived for six years.

Now Katya, who is in her third year at Texas College of Medicine in Dallas, has set
herself the target of raising £3,500 for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research which
funds a network of Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving
outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Katya, aged 26, said: “We were living in Sevenoaks when dad became ill. His tumour type is more commonly found in children and is incredibly rare in adults. He managed to outlive his initial poor prognosis and the six years I had with him after his diagnosis allowed me to really begin to know him and, most importantly, remember him.

“The fact that he survived for so long was made possibly only by breaking-edge
advancements in the treatment of brain tumours.

"It is for this reason that I feel I owe the memories I have of my father to organisations such as Brain Tumour Research which is working so hard to raise awareness of this disease and the lack of funding for research.”

Katya will be pounding the streets of the capital on Sunday, April 22, 2018, as she takes part in the marathon, which is the world’s most famous running event.

Her father, who was 36 and with three young children when he was diagnosed, passed away in February 2002 at the age of 42.

Tim Green, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Brain
tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

“For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Experiences like this family’s
reminds us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.

"We are extremely grateful to Katya for her support and are appealing for runners who have a ballot place for the marathon to join her on Team Brain Tumour Research by nominating us as their chosen charity for 2018. Together we will find a cure.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via the family’s JustGiving page go to
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katyastrage