A TEAM who were determined to fund research into brain tumours have reached their mega £10,000 target.

Diane Shane-Stone, who runs SS Fitness in Ovingham, hoped to reach the target within a year after kicking the fund-raising challenge off with last year’s Mad March Mare.

Through a series of events including two charity calendars, three auctions, three walks, a fitness day and individual fund-raising activities, Diane and the team of fund-raisers found out they had raised £10,931.61 for Brain Tumour Research.

Diane was keen to raise money for the charity after her father, Michael Shane, died in April, 2016 after he suffered an aggressive Glioblastoma Multiforme tumour.

She said: “When I spoke to British Heart Foundation I was astounded because it was nearly £11,000. £10,000 is enough to fund a week’s worth of research so it was amazing to know we had gone even further.

“April 11 was the two-year anniversary of my Dad’s death and it was just after that we found out we had raised the amount.

“It was very emotional.”

Those who took part in the events included regular attendees at Diane’s classes, as well as local people who had heard about the events and wanted to support the charity.

Some of those who took part had been personally affected by the disease, and ages ranged from five-year-olds to those in their 70s.

But they faced challenges when this year’s Mad March Mare was cancelled because of heavy snow – and with only until the end of March to raise the remaining funds they worried they wouldn’t reach the target.

“It was almost as if the weather was against us,” Diane added.

“We had raised all the sponsor money so we took a route from Ovingham up to Whittle Dene instead. It was knee-deep snow at some points and some people ran it.”

And after one final walk and charity event in March, which were also affected by snow, the team were relieved to have reached their aim.