TWO sisters who are raising money to help find a cure for brain cancer after losing their grandmother to the disease have raised almost £1,000.

Ellie and Heidi Edwards, aged five and three, raised money for the Brain Tumour Research charity after taking part in the near four-mile Walk of Hope at the Rising Sun Country Park.

The girls, both from Guisborough, took part in the walk last month to raise money in memory of their grandmother, Elaine Neesam-Smith, who died from a brain tumour at the age of 52.

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.

She 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.

The girls have raised over £850 so far which will help the charity raise awareness of brain tumours and fund vital research into the disease.

Danielle Edwards, mum to Ellie and Heidi and daughter of Elaine, said: “I’m so proud of the girls for taking part in the Walk of Hope – they were so excited to be doing something in memory of their grandma, who they call their ‘star in the sky’.

"They’ve raised a brilliant amount already and we would be grateful for any extra donations as this cause is so close to our hearts.”

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

Matthew Price, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Ellie and Heidi are remarkable little girls who joined the walk to help prevent other people suffering like their grandma did.

"We really value their support and thank them for taking part in the Walk of Hope.

“Elaine’s story reminds us that less than 20 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers.

"We cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.”

The money raised will help the charity in its mission to fund dedicated research centres of excellence in the UK and to campaign for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research nationally.

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours, and they are a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer.

A spokesperson said: "We welcome recent funding announcements for research into brain tumours from the UK Government and Cancer Research UK – £65m over the next five years.

"However, this potential funding of £13 million a year comes with a catch – money will only be granted to quality research proposals and, due to the historic lack of investment, there may not be enough of these applications that qualify for grants."

To sponsor Ellie and Heidi, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/danielle-edwards17.