A family has raised £50,000 for a brain tumour charity in memory of their son who died from the disease.

The McKie family, from Milngavie, have been raising money for 18 years in memory of Graham McKie who died from an inoperable and incurable brain tumour.

Graham died at the age of 32 in 2006 after being diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma.

The family started fundraising shortly after his death and has now reached the milestone of £50,000.

 

(Left) Graham McKie with mum and dad, Rachel and Don (Image: Brain Tumour Research) Rachel McKie, Graham's mum, said: "We promised ourselves we would honour Graham by helping others.

"Reaching £50,000 is a bittersweet milestone, but we’re proud to know his legacy is contributing to vital research and support.

"Our hope is that one day, no family will have to endure the pain we did."

Graham was a fan of Aberdeen FC and Manchester United and a fully trained Volvo technician.

He began experiencing severe headaches on Boxing Day 2005 and was later diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma (GBM).

Despite his positivity and determination to live, Graham died on August 11, 2006, surrounded by his devastated and heartbroken family.

Don McKie, Graham's dad, said: "Graham faced his illness with such strength and determination beyond his years.

"He never let it dampen his spirit.

"We’ve worked hard to make sure his memory is a force for good, and reaching this significant milestone is a tribute to him.

"But we won’t stop - there’s so much more to be done to bring hope to families like ours."

The family have been raising money for Brain Tumour Research, who are collaborating with the Beatson Centre to establish a new Centre of Excellence in Scotland, scheduled to open in 2025.

The centre will focus on accelerating research into glioblastoma (GBM), with the aim of making significant strides in understanding and treating this aggressive form of brain tumour.

Ashley McWilliams, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “The commitment shown by Don, Rachel, and their family over 18 years is truly inspiring.

“Their incredible efforts in Graham’s memory highlight the urgent need for more funding and research.

“We are so grateful for their support, which helps bring us closer to a cure for this devastating disease.”