TWO sisters are raising money to help find a cure for brain cancer after losing their grandmother to the disease.

Ellie and Heidi Edwards, aged five and three, are raising money for the Brain Tumour Research charity on a sponsored walk at the Rising Sun Country Park.

The girls, both from Guisborough, will join the near four-mile Walk of Hope on Saturday, September 29 after losing their grandmother, Elaine Neesam-Smith.

In October 2017, Mrs Neesam-Smith experienced a fit, collapsed and was placed in an induced coma.

Consultants suspected a stroke and she returned home shortly after.

In December, however, she collapsed again and this time she was diagnosed with an inoperable glioblastoma multiforme – a highly aggressive type of brain tumour.

The 52-year-old was moved to Yew Tree Care Centre in Redcar for palliative care and she died in March 2018, leaving her husband, two children, and Ellie and Heidi.

Danielle Edwards, mum to Ellie and Heidi and daughter of Elaine, said: “Mum’s brain tumour was extremely aggressive.

"Her first scan in October showed what they thought was stroke damage and it was a mass no bigger than a 5p coin.

"Then by her next scan, six weeks later, it was covering a third of her brain. It all happened so suddenly and Ellie especially took it really hard.

“The girls are really looking forward to the Walk of Hope – Ellie thinks of her grandma as a star in the sky and now she wants to help other stars in the sky too.

"They will be over the moon with anything they can raise.”

Matthew Price, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “It’s really touching that Ellie and Heidi want to help us find a cure for brain tumours.

"It just goes to show that anyone and everyone can do a bit for the cause.

"We hope that their story will encourage others to join too – you can bring the whole family and enjoy the wildlife and beautiful landscapes that the park has to offer, all whilst raising vital funds.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

"Stories like Elaine’s remind us that we cannot allow this situation to continue.”

The Rising Sun Country Park Walk of Hope takes place in North Tyneside and takes walkers through grasslands, a farm and countryside.

The registration fee is £10 for individuals and £20 for families. All walkers will receive a t-shirt and, upon completing the walk, be awarded with a medal.

To sponsor Ellie and Heidi, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/danielle-edwards17.