A BRIDGWATER police officer has been honoured for her work raising money for charity after her colleague was diagnosed with a brain tumour. 

PC Katy Drabble, 37, chose to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research after losing John Heath, 87, who died just three weeks after his diagnosis a year ago. 

Friend and colleague PC Jim Murray, 51, who is undergoing treatment for a grade-four glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive type of brain cancer, also inspired Katy to take part in the Taunton Half Marathon and the Great South Run.

Katy, who has now raised more than £4,000 for the charity, was recognised for her efforts when she visited the Brain Tumour Research Centre at Plymouth University on April 11. 

She was accompanied by PC Murray and his wife Ally, who also live in Bridgwater

At the centre, she met with researchers who work to improve treatments for patients alongside their endeavour to find a cure. 

Katy placed a tile on the Wall of Hope representing the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research.

Bridgwater Mercury:

Katy's tile. 

She said: “It’s lovely that Jim and Ally are able to come and see first-hand the research that is underway.

"I feel really proud to have raised enough to contribute to something so important.

"Just being at the research centre and seeing what they are doing really draws attention to the cost of research and work that needs to be conducted to find a cure for brain tumours.”

The charity says that brain tumours can affect anyone at any age, and it calls more children and adults under 40-years-old than any other cancer. Just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to the cause. 

According to Brain Tumour Research, 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.

Emma Cronin, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are really grateful to Katy for raising vital funds to support important research into a disease which affects so many people and their families each year. Stories like Jim’s and John’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research go to www.braintumourresearch.org/donation