A brother and sister from the Westlands are undertaking a 61-kilometer run in memory of their late mother, who died of brain cancer in October 2024. Penny Graham, a 61-year-old teacher, was diagnosed with a stage-four brain tumor in early 2021, following a three-year battle with the disease. She passed away just 13 days before the birth of her twin grandchildren.

Sam Graham, 33, and his sister Charlotte, 31, have organized the run both to honor their mother’s memory and to raise funds for cancer-related causes. The siblings described their loss as heartbreaking, recalling Penny as the family’s “rock” and someone who had been fit and healthy before her diagnosis.

According to Sam, the first signs of illness were seizures that Penny experienced while still teaching. Initially, doctors attributed the symptoms to stress, but subsequent scans revealed the tumor. She underwent multiple surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, defying expectations by surviving well beyond the initial prognosis of six months. Penny was able to attend Sam’s wedding in 2023 despite her illness, but her condition deteriorated in 2024 as the tumor grew aggressively.

“We thought Christmas 2021 would be the last one we’d all spend together, but we had another three brilliant years,” Sam said. The siblings emphasized how deeply the diagnosis and eventual loss affected them, noting that they had not previously encountered serious illness within their family.

The fundraising run will trace a route significant to Penny’s life, beginning at Stone Cricket Club, where she frequently watched Sam play. The route passes through Yarlet School, where Penny taught for over two decades, as well as various other locations meaningful to the family, including Eccleshall, a relative’s farm, local pubs, Penny’s home, Trentham, and Barlaston, before returning to the cricket club.

Sam, who has not previously run a full marathon distance, expressed both nervousness and determination about the undertaking. His sister Charlotte, who recently completed the London Marathon, plans to support him throughout the challenge. The run is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and is expected to conclude around 5 p.m.

Following the event, supporters are invited to join the siblings at Stone Cricket Club for a raffle and celebration. Contributions to the fundraising effort can be made through their JustGiving page.