A BRAIN tumour diagnosis did little to stop a Dorset teenager completing an epic charity challenge.

Sam Stourton, from Marnhull, near Sturminster Newton, completed an 874-mile bike ride from Land's End to John O'Groats in just five days, raising more than £27,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

The teen, now aged 19, was diagnosed with a glioma brain tumour in November 2017 aged 18, after being tested for signs of epilepsy. But the shock of the diagnosis was quickly replaced with the fundraising idea.

Sam said: “I’d always been fit because of my love for rowing so the cycle challenge sprang to mind. It’s a popular challenge and I knew other people that had done it but I wanted to achieve it in the fastest possible time I could.

“It ended up being about 14 hours of cycling for five days in a row.

“My tumour has triggered epilepsy and all-round annoyance, so I decided to try and raise as much money as possible to fund research into how our immune systems can be primed to attack tumour cells, and how our genes are linked to tumour development.”

Jen Boilestad, community fundraising manager at The Brain Tumour Charity said: “We receive no government funding and rely 100 per cent on voluntary donations and gifts in wills. It’s only through the efforts of our fantastic fundraisers such as Sam, that we can bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year.

“We are incredibly grateful to Sam and all his family and friends. Together we will beat brain tumours.”

The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts. It funds pioneering research to increase survival and improve treatment options as well as raising awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours to bring about earlier diagnosis.

Visit thebraintumourcharity.org for more information.