A CLARKSTON mum has dedicated her first London Marathon to her daughter who has just completed a year of gruelling treatment for a brain tumour.

Louise Milliken’s challenge has already raised more than £15,000 for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research. The money will fund vital work focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Daughter Katie, aged 11, was among friends and family who cheered Louise on throughout Sunday’s event and the inspirational mum has dedicated her efforts not just to her own daughter but to all patients and families affected by the cruel disease.

Louise said: "It was my first and I think almost certainly my last marathon.

"It was the most incredible feeling, very tough and very emotional but I have the most amazing daughter who is brave and still smiling despite everything she is going through. The thought of Katie and her battle and of all of those families who are touched by brain tumours kept me going.”

Katie was just three when she was first diagnosed. Her tumour, a low-grade juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, is deep in the middle of her brain which means surgery is not an option. Since her diagnosis she has endured 18 months of chemotherapy, countless operations, hospital stays and blood and platelet transfusions. Three months of proton beam therapy in Jacksonville, Florida, proved unsuccessful and Katie, who is now part-way through another 18 months of chemo, has managed to continue attending Carolside Primary School throughout.

Louise, who completed the event in an impressive 4:18:25, said: "Throughout it all Katie has been amazing but the tumour has caused irreversible changes. Her balance and co-ordination are poor, she can no longer run and has had to learn to write with her left hand.

"When she should have been enjoying the typical life of a child, she has been attending hospital for chemo, sickness, infections, blood transfusions, scans, operations and other tests.

"Despite this she still manages to attend school almost full-time and her positive outlook and chatty nature rubs off on all who get to know her."

Joe Woollcott, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer – and more children than leukaemia – yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

“For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Stories like Katie’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We are extremely grateful to Louise for her support and congratulate her for her dedication. Together we will find a cure.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Louise’s JustGiving page, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/louise-milliken1