A MAN has signed up to tackle Brain Tumour Research's 100 a Day Your Way challenge in memory of his mum.

Last year, 70-year-old Elly Monaghan was speaking to her son, Pete Monaghan, on the phone when her speech began to slow and she started to sound confused.

Pete, 42, who is an assistant principal and PE teacher at Ormiston Shelfield Academy in Pelsall, said: “Mum was due to spend the day with my sister. When I phoned at 10am, it sounded like she was drunk.

"She was slurring her words and seemed confused on the call. I asked if Dad was there and after Mum passed the phone to him, I asked if she had been drinking to which he said no. We knew something wasn’t right.”

Elly was admitted to Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital. A scan showed that Elly had suffered a bleed on the brain, which was caused by a brain tumour. This was confirmed as a glioblastoma (GBM).

Elly underwent an operation followed by only one round of chemotherapy treatment, since her body was unable to cope.

Pete added: "Mum’s platelet levels weren’t where they needed to be to continue with chemo which finished in October.

"In the December, although a scan showed no regrowth at that point, we were told that this disease would kill Mum."

A scan taken in March 2023 showed that Elly's tumour had spread to two different areas on her brain, making surgery impossible.

Elly soon lost mobility on one side of her body and became bed bound. In July, she passed away at home, 14 months after she was diagnosed.

Pete is taking on the Brain Tumour Research challenge, which requires participants to complete either 100 squats, 100 star jumps, 100 sit-ups, 100 seconds of a plank, or a combination of all four exercises, each day in November.

Supporters can donate to his Facebook fundraising page for the chance to pick the activity for one day of his 100-day exercise.

Not only that, but Pete is also campaigning alongside the charity to help it reach 100,000 signatures on its petition to increase research funding.

Mel Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Elly’s story is a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of this disease, which can affect anyone at any time.

"We’re really grateful to Pete for supporting us in fundraising and campaigning to help us to raise awareness.​"

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK focused on finding a cure for all types of brain tumours through campaigning to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK.