A Rickmansworth mum whose daughter died of a brain tumour after a 10-year cancer battle has said she'll never get over her loss.

Now an old school friend of Louise Hudson, who died on June 26, 2010, is undertaking a bike ride along the route of the District tube line to raise £15,000 for research into the disease that killed her.

Mum Susan Rodger said they first realised something was wrong when Louise suffered a seizure in her sleep.

She was diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour at the age of 26. Louise underwent gruelling surgery and radiotherapy and survived another 10 years.

Susan, who lives in Sarratt, said: "Some people think that, given time, you get over something like this but you never do."

Louise spent her last days at home surrounded by friends and relatives, with the family cat sleeping beside her.

She said: “Although she was very ill, Louise was extremely active and it was hard work. After a while, we made up a bed for her downstairs and she was able to enjoy the sunshine, looking out into the garden and sometimes lying outside on a sunbed. The cat took to sleeping on her bed and lots of her friends would visit - sometimes there would be a party atmosphere.”

Louise was a pupil at Rook’s Heath High School, South Harrow. She got a job as a clerk at the Holborn law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain and began training as a solicitor but decided to go travelling to Australia. On her return to London, Louise got a job with Reuters.

Susan continued: "At first, the tumour didn’t seem to affect her very much but later she had difficulty remembering names and problems handling numbers.

"Then there was a stage when Louise realised the brain tumour was going to kill her.

"She started to lose her peripheral vision and the tumour’s location meant Louise lost many inhibitions. Once she marched onto a film set as she recognised one of the actors and wanted to say hello.

"When she was in hospital she was extremely caring to other patients and staff and people would say how wonderfully kind she was."

Susan said she visits the churchyard where Louise's ashes were placed regularly, taking her favourite white flowers. On birthdays and anniversaries, a group go there to remember her.

Schoolfriend Leon Hall, who helped carry the coffin, will cycle 74 miles and take in all 61 stations along the underground line on Sunday as part of a group raising money for Brain Tumour Research He said: “Louise was a dear friend. We stayed in touch after school until she died in 2010. Louise was just 36 when we lost her.

"We don’t believe anyone has done an event quite like this before and we hope it will be a great tribute to Louise."