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Daughter to run 10km in memory of 'loving dad'

Bea Swallow
BBC News, Bristol
Brain Tumour Research Nick and Maisie Ball at a wedding together. He is wearing a pale cream suit with silk tie and pink shirt. He has his arm around Maisie, who is wearing a leather jacket and has long blonde hair. Behind them there are other wedding guests dressed formally. In the background there is a glass window where you can see the dining hall, set up with white tablecloths and pink decorations. Brain Tumour Research
Maisie Ball (R) has raised £1,825 for Brain Tumour Research after losing her father Nick (L) in August last year

A woman will be lacing up her running shoes to take part in a 10k (6.21mile) race to raise money for charity after losing her father to an incurable brain tumour.

Maisie Ball will be taking part in the Great Bristol Run on 11 May in memory of her father Nick Ball who died on 3 August, three-years after being diagnosed.

The money raised will be donated to Brain Tumour Research to help fund research towards finding new treatments for patients and a cure.

Ms Ball said: "I still can't fully put into words how much I miss him, but I know I want to help raise awareness, so others don't have to go through the same pain we did."

Brain Tumour Research Nick and Rachel Ball running a marathon together. They are both wearing sunglasses and black and green athletic shirts with numbers pinned to them. They are smiling and laughing as they run past some metal barriers where bystanders clap from the side-lines. Brain Tumour Research
Nick Ball and his wife Rachel (pictured) took part in marathons and were very active

In August 2021, Mr Ball, 47, suddenly became confused and went to bed to rest after returning from a routine run.

Upon failing to wake him, his wife Rachel called an ambulance and he was rushed to intensive care at Southmead Hospital after suffering a seizure.

A scan confirmed he had a glioblastoma - an aggressive and incurable brain tumour.

The devastating news fell on the same day the family was celebrating Ms Ball's 16th birthday.

Brain Tumour Research Nick Ball wearing a blue and white patterned hospital gown and a large bandaged around his head. He is sitting in a purple chair in a hospital room, bedside medical equipment and a wooden door. He is looking at the camera but looks weak and unstable. Brain Tumour Research
Over the course of treatment, Mr Ball underwent 45 rounds of radiotherapy and nine rounds of chemotherapy

"I remember how brave both my mum and dad were in trying to make things feel normal for me. It's something I will never forget," recalled Ms Ball.

"Losing my dad to a brain tumour was like having the ground pulled out from under me. One minute, he was a strong, steady person, and the next, he was slipping away.

"It was heart-breaking to watch him change so quickly, and I felt so powerless."

'He'd be so proud'

Over the course of treatment, her father under went an awake brain surgery, an operation on his spine, nine rounds of chemotherapy and 45 sessions of radiotherapy.

On her fundraising page, Ms Ball wrote: "When we said our final goodbyes, I wrote a speech to read at his funeral and in this I promised dad I'd never take for granted my ability to move. So what better way to honour him by this 10k?

"I just know if he was here now for my training and my run I wouldn't hear him shut up about it and he'd be so proud".

Family Handout Nick Ball wearing a black hoodie and black framed glasses. He has a bald head and a closely shaven beard. He is sitting down in a white living room beside a grey dining chair. He is smiling at the camera, but looks weak from cancer treatment.Family Handout
Ms Ball described her father as a "smiley, caring and loving man"

Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said, "We are deeply moved by Maisie's dedication to raising funds and awareness in memory of her dad, Nick.

"Brain tumours have one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer, and more funding is desperately needed to change that.

"Maisie's participation in the Great Bristol 10K is an important step towards increasing awareness and vital funding."

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