A FAMILY fun run held in memory of a much-loved Lymm father-of-two Paul Cooper has raised over £35,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Paul was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in 2019 and sadly passed away in January aged 47, leaving a wife and two young children.
To remember him, more than 200 of his friends and family took part in the Coops’ Barmy Army FUNdraiser at Lymm High School, where Paul was a pupil in the 1980s and 1990s.
Runners dressed as superheroes and in Cooperman outfits to recognise his incredible strength during his battle.
The event involved an optional one km, five km or 10km run with medals for each runner and prizes followed by a bbq, bar and DJ with all money raised going to The Paul Cooper Fund in The Brain Tumour Charity.
Vicky Carr, 46, Paul’s sister (pictured above), said: “We wanted to remember Paul and celebrate his life while trying to help others who suffer at the hands of this cruel disease.
“It’s incredible to have raised this amount. I hoped we could harness the love and support that so many people showed to Paul throughout his life into something positive following his death and this has really blown me away.
“I feel very emotional knowing how much people cared for Paul and the money raised can hopefully help others in the future suffering from GBM.
“Paul would have been incredibly touched and honoured that so many people supported this event in his memory. He would have been absolutely over the moon.
“He would have loved the event too – he was incredibly sociable, loved running and dance music so it would have been right up his street!”
Paul grew up in Lymm, worked as an Associate Partner in the tax team at Ernst & Young and was married to Emma and has two daughters now aged four and seven.
He had many friends in Lymm and Warrington, many of whom rallied to help organise the event which was also supported by a number of local businesses including The Coffee House Lymm who donated cakes, Co-op Heatley Mere and Lymm who supplied the water stations, and Fretus Group Ltd who provided First Aid support.
It meant every penny raised was able to go to The Paul Cooper Fund, set up in The Brain Tumour Charity, in July to help improve outcomes for people who suffer from GBM.
Vicky explained: “Only between one and three per cent of the Government’s national cancer spend has gone towards brain tumours despite them being the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40.
“Only 25 per cent of GBM sufferers survive more than one year and only five per cent of GBM sufferers survive more than five years and there’s been no meaningful advances in treatment for over 40 years.
“More has to be done and 100 per cent of monies raised by The Paul Cooper Fund will fund vital research into GBM and hopefully improve the outcomes for GBM sufferers.
“We’re looking to fundraise throughout the year and this can be done by anyone – whether it’s washing cars, climbing Mount Everest or simply making a donation – every penny makes a difference.”
To show your support, visit The Paul Cooper Fund webpage and donate at
https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/get-involved/our-supporter-groups/supporter-groups/groups/the-paul-cooper-fund/
