A HEXHAM man who lost his friend to a brain tumour is taking on the Great North Run to raise funds for research into the disease.

Lee Wise was just 26 when he died just over a year after being diagnosed with an inoperable glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour.

Lee, who worked as a chef, was diagnosed in May 2014 and passed away in August 2015. Now his former school friend Shaun Davison (28) is taking on the Great North Run in memory of Lee.

The pair met when they were students at Queen Elizabeth High School and had only recently returned from a lads' holiday in Majorca when Lee was diagnosed.

Shaun, of Wordsworth Close, said: "Lee and I were in a big group of friends and enjoyed playing football and socialising. We used to get together on ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ for drinks and to play pool and darts.

"To have lost a friend at such a young age is devastating and everyone who knew him is heartbroken."

Shaun will be among thousands of runners taking part in the world's biggest half marathon, which plots a 13.1 mile route, this Sunday.

A 35-strong team will be taking part and raising money for Brain Tumour Research which funds a network of centres of excellence where scientists are focused on improving treatments for patients and finding a cure. Each day of research costs £2,740.

Suzanne McKenna, head of community fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are extremely grateful to Shaun and wish him well. Sadly Lee's story is all too common. Brain tumours can affect anyone at any age and they 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 this devastating disease."

To sponsor Shaun please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shaun-davison1