The family of a young man who died of brain cancer have visited a research centre where scientists are searching for a cure for the disease which killed him.
On New Year's Day in 2016, dad-of-two Adam Barclay, 27, died after he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.
He underwent emergency surgery after a delay in diagnosing his condition but he never regained consciousness.
Emma, who was due to marry Adam three months before he died, and changed her surname to Barclay, said: "Adam was the most amazing man and a wonderfully loving father to Lola and Parker.
"It’s so cruel to think he never got to fulfil his dreams, including taking Parker for his first driving lesson or walking Lola down the aisle, let alone marrying the mother of his children.
"Although it’s too late for Adam, I don’t want other families to go through what we have so it’s some comfort to think that Adam’s legacy is helping to find better outcomes for brain tumour patients in the future."
Adam's family, including fiancée Emma, from Watford, and parents Wendy and Ken from St Albans, have raised more than £5,500 in aid of the Brain Tumour Research charity since Adam's death.
The Barclays were invited to the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London on March 15 to place tiles on the Wall of Hope in memory of Adam.
They were among a select group of supporters given the opportunity to tour the labs led by principal investigator Professor Silvia Marino, and speak to scientists about their work to find a cure for the disease and specifically glioblastoma tumours, before placing tiles on the Wall of Hope.
Each tile represented the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research and celebrates the fundraising achievements of the family or supporter involved.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We’re really grateful to the Barclay family for their support and hope they inspire others to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research.
"Adam’s story reminds us that just 12.5 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers.
"We cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change outcomes for brain tumour patients and ultimately find a cure."
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