A WIDOW who lost her husband of 27 years to a brain tumour is backing a national fundraising campaign to help find a cure for the disease.

John Annis, a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, died in wife Julie’s arms a year after being diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of the disease.

He was 48 years old and the couple’s daughter, Sophie, was just eight.

Since John’s death in December 2014, mum and daughter who live in Great Ayton, held true to their promise of campaigning for greater awareness of the disease in memory of John.

This year they are working with the national charity Brain Tumour Research to support Wear A Hat Day which takes place on March 29.

Wear A Hat Day has raised over a million pounds since it was launched by Brain Tumour Research nine-years-ago and is the culmination of Brain Tumour Awareness Month in March.

The big day will see schools, workplaces, families and individuals across the UK fundraising and taking part in fun events to raise awareness of brain tumours and help fund life-saving research.

Mrs Annis said: “Sophie and I are doing the best we can to live with this sadness and we are committed to continuing to support Brain Tumour Research as it is vital that more money is spent on finding a cure for this devastating disease.”