A FAMILY from Rugby is taking on not one but 10 fund-raising challenges to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of their beloved son and brother.
The Realf family wants to raise £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research to help find a cure for the disease which took Stephen Realf’s life at the age of just 26.
It is part of an incredible legacy that the family has built through campaigning and fund-raising over the past decade.
Stephen Realf was a trainee pilot with the RAF.
Rugby man Stephen was 19 years old and training to be an RAF pilot when he was diagnosed with an astrocytoma. In the decade since he died in August 2014, his family has worked tirelessly with the charity to make some meaning out of their tragic loss.
The quest to build a legacy for Stephen took off on the first anniversary of his death, when his sister Maria Lester, an author and journalist from Surrey, launched a petition calling on the government to ‘fund more research into brain tumours, the biggest cancer killer of under 40s’.
It was signed by more than 120,000 people and led to a Westminster debate, followed by the creation of a Task and Finish Working Group on brain tumour research.
The group’s report, published in February 2018, came with an announcement that £20million of government funding would be allocated over the next five years, with the aim of doubling this once new high-quality research proposals became available.
The government confirmed the extra £20million later that year upon the death of Dame Tessa Jowell, although to date only £15million of the £40million has been allocated.
Maria said: “I could never have imagined that a petition started in my bedroom would take us all the way to Westminster, where our family met with senior ministers such as Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab and George Freeman.
“However, with a new government in place, there is still much more to do, and we won’t give up until a cure is found.”
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 the disease since records began in 2002.
Stephen’s dad Peter, from Rugby, said: “Research gave my son hope. The campaigning we have done over the past decade, and the impact it has had, has given me the belief that he did not die in vain.”
Peter said the impact of his family’s campaigning efforts over the past decade had given him the belief that Stephen ‘did not die in vain’.
Kicking off the 10 for Stephen campaign, which has already raised more than £600 towards the £10,000 target, Maria will be honouring Stephen’s passion for his favourite football team Tottenham Hotspur by taking on The Dare Skywalk.
She will scale the roof of the team’s huge stadium before stepping on to a glass walkway over 46 metres above the pitch to reach its iconic cockerel.
Maria said: “Steve was a real daredevil – unlike me – so this will definitely be a test of my nerves!
“We’re planning a variety of challenges over the year, ranging from the heart-warming to the heart-stopping. Even my six-year-old son – who sadly never got to meet his uncle – will be getting involved, along with a number of family friends.”
Hugh Adams, head of stakeholder relations for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Stephen’s family are truly dedicated supporters of the cause, taking every opportunity to campaign at Westminster or to help the charity raise awareness.
“We send heartfelt wishes on the 10th anniversary of Stephen’s loss and all the best for their 10 for Stephen fundraiser.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/page/tenforStephen to donate to the 10 for Stephen campaign.
