The widow of former rugby league player Tony Barrow took on the London Marathon on Sunday to help find a cure for the disease that claimed her husband’s life.

St Helens Star:

Tony in his rugby days

Ann-Marie Barrow, 36, from Windle, was among tens of thousands of runners who pounded the streets of the capital at Virgin Money London Marathon, on Sunday, April 28.

She raised more than £7,100 in memory of Tony from Thatto Heath, who was a professional Rugby League player for Oldham RLFC and Swinton Lions RLFC.

The 45-year-old died in 2017, two years after being diagnosed with brain tumour called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

St Helens Star:

Phil and Ann-Marie with their medals

He left behind Ann-Marie and his two daughters Megan and Lucy.

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Ann-Marie said: “Together with Tony’s friend Phil Green, I completed the marathon to raise vital funds for research and also to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

"I set myself a fundraising target of £3,000 so I was amazed to have more than doubled this amount and I am very grateful to my family and friends who donated.

“I was very pleased with my time of 05:00:08 and, importantly, to have raised awareness of this dreadful disease.

St Helens Star:

Ann-Marie during the marathon

"Phil completed the route in 04:51:37. The marathon was an incredibly tough challenge but I was determined to cross the finish line for Tony and I was thinking about him every step of the way.

“Tony’s diagnosis was a devastating blow to us all and we were shocked that someone as fit and healthy as him could have such a poor prognosis.

"It was also dreadful to learn about the historic underfunding of research into the disease.”

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

St Helens Star:

Tony

Carol Robertson, head of community fundraising for Brain Tumour Research in the North, added: “Thank you to Ann-Marie for sharing Tony’s story and helping to raise awareness of the fact that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age.

"We congratulate her and Phil for completing the London Marathon.”

To donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Ann-Marie-Barrow-LM2019