Tragic Shropshire family fundraising in memory of Laura

Laura Foster was diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago and died at the age of 29.

Her family, who lives in Bridgnorth, has launched a fundraising appeal and have raised more than £3,700 in just a week and a half to fund research into brain tumours, which kill 60 per cent of people diagnosed within one year.

According to NHS Choices, a brain tumour is a growth of cells in the brain that multiply in an abnormal, uncontrollable way. However, it is not always cancerous.

Brain tumours are graded from 1 to 4.

Benign brain tumours (non-cancerous):

• Generally, low-grade brain tumours – grade 1 or 2 – are slow growing and unlikely to spread. They are usually benign (non-cancerous), which means they tend to stay in one place and do not invade other areas of the brain or spread to other parts of the body.

• Sometimes, they can be surgically removed and will not come back, causing no further problems. But some grade 2 tumours may grow back.

Click here for more information on benign brain tumours

Malignant brain tumours (cancerous):

• Malignant brain tumours can be either primary or secondary. Most common malignant brain tumours are spread to the brain from tumours outside the brain (secondary tumours) and treatment aims to prolong life and relieve the symptoms.

• Primary malignant tumours, or high-grade brain tumours (grade 3 or 4) which start in the brain, are generally fast-growing. These must be treated as soon as possible to prevent them spreading to, and damaging, other parts of the brain and spinal cord.

Click here for more information on malignant brain tumours

• Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/brain-tumours/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Rose McGrath said her sister was "a fun-loving girl with an adventurous spirit" and the family had been left devastated by the loss.

She said: "We were very close as a family and enjoyed many happy times together.

"Laura and our mother, June, were like best friends and spent a lot of time with each other, often having weekends away and holidays together."

Laura was treated at University College London Hospital during her illness where the family said she received great care and support.

"We have chosen to raise money in Laura's memory for the Glioblastoma Research Fund at the UCLH hospital," said Rose.

"Money will fund research into the type of condition Laura had at the hospital where she was treated.

"Brain tumours kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease."

Rose said Laura, who lived in London and worked in publishing for Kyle Books, got her love for life from their father, Lee Foster.

"She loved her dad and they enjoyed horse riding, ice skating while she was growing up and watching Wolverhampton Wanderers play," she said.

"Laura was a brilliant sister and we would do anything for each other..

"When I went travelling round the world she secretly slipped a hand written poem in to my backpack, which I discovered the first night away. It was a lovely, heartfelt poem that described how much she thought of me and how much she was going to miss me . "

Laura attended Newbridge Primary School, Wolverhampton Girls High School and King Edwards College. She went on to study English literature at Cardiff University and travelled the world before obtaining her dream job with Kyle Books in London, as an editorial assistant.

"Her work colleagues have told us how she was a hugely respected and popular member of the team," said Rose.

Laura was diagnosed with a grade three anaplastic astrocytoma brain tumour in 2012, after experiencing seizures at work.

Sadly the tumour progressed to a grade four glioblastoma multiforme tumour on March 1, the day after she celebrated her 29th birthday, and after a number of seizures her condition deteriorated rapidly. She died on March 19.

Rose, whose husband Freddie also lost his brother, Tom, to a brain tumour aged 29 and his sister to an asthma attack on the day of his brother's funeral, said: "We are devastated to have lost three siblings between us before the age of 30 and two from a brain tumour."

• The family will be organising a number of charity events. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/Rose-McGrath