A brain tumour awareness group is working hard to support those who have been affected by the illness - and aims to raise awareness with a twilight walk this weekend.

Unite to Fight Brain Tumours support group recently visited the Scottish Parliament with The Brain Tumour Charity to discuss #nobrainer. The group want there to be a pathway, similar to the stroke pathway, where people know what signs to look out for to make it easier to get an early diagnosis and support.

Gemma Brailey, a deputy ICU nurse who is involved with the group, and who lost her mum to a brain tumour, said: “We are just trying to get it out. We were at parliament a couple of weeks ago which was massive for us.”

Gemma lives in Dunfermline with her three children.

While at the Scottish Parliament on March 7, members of the group got to share their experiences and have discussions, and they spoke to MSPs.

The group started out with three families, united in their grief of losing a loved one to a brain tumour.

Gemma and her sisters Jane Nolan, and Kelly Webster lost their mother Penny when they were all young. Andy Chalmers, another member of the group, lost his wife Susan, and Susan’s sisters, Kirsty and Louise are also involved.

“When my mum was diagnosed she was 42, which is the age I am now with three kids, so it really brings it home,” said Gemma.

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The group have their annual twilight walk this Sunday, March 24, in South Queensferry at 9.30am. Walkers are meeting at the Hawes Inn, and the group will be handing out t-shirts. Anyone is welcome to come along.

They will also be holding their annual bake sale on Sunday, May 26, which will be held at Gemma’s home. The bake sales have grown in popularity over the years.

Claire Baker MSP will also be in attendance to help raise awareness through social media.

Collectively the group have raised just over £117,000. All funds raised by the group go to The Brain Tumour Charity.

The walk is to raise money and awareness for the cause.

“We need to see change," explained Gemma. "If somebody goes to the doctor and they think it’s a stroke, there’s a pathway they can check. What we are trying to do is create a pathway for early diagnoses of brain tumours.

“We need a pathway like everyone else, we need GPs to be on the ball for early diagnosis and intervention.”

March is brain tumour awareness month, so the group's twilight walk has come at the perfect time to raise funds and awareness.

The Brain Tumour Charity, which the group supports, is calling for signatures on their open letter to the Westminster Health Minister Andrew Stephenson MP, also copied to Neil Gray MSP, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, calling for a national brain tumour strategy.

The open letter can be signed here.