Family, friends and colleagues ran in memory of a popular district nurse while raising more than £11,000 to fund medical research and support for those affected by brain tumours.

Isobel Lyall, from Hoole, died of a brain tumour in January, aged just 55.

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There were more than 300 people at her funeral including fellow nurses, some of whom took part in the Delamere Forest Race for Life on Sunday as part of ‘Team Isobel’.

Isobel, a Chester-based NHS district nurse and team leader, is survived by husband Graeme, daughters Kelda, Claire and Kim and granddaughter Alexandra.

Isobel Lyall, a grandma and mother, from Hoole, who died of a brain tumour in January. Picture by Andy Scargill

Her family thanked everyone who took part in the run on an online fund-raising page.

They said: “A big thank you to the family friends and Isobel’s former colleagues and friends who joined Kelda and Claire at the Delamere ‘Race for Life’ events on Sunday 15th May 2016.

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“Thanks also to all those giving so generously and as a result the team raised an impressive amount for the chosen charities. It was a brilliant day in every sense ... event, company and weather!”

Brain tumours are the largest cancer killer among the under 40s yet this area receives just 1% of funding into cancer research. Treatment protocols have only advanced slowly and survival rates remain unchanged.

Graeme Lyall, who lost his wife Isobel to a brain tumour earlier this year, with daughters Claire and Kelda who took part in the Delamere Forest Race for Life in memory of their mum. Picture by Andy Scargill

That’s why the family decided to split the proceeds between the Brain Tumour Research Trust, which funds research into brain tumours and campaigns for a bigger proportion of cancer research funding, as well as the Brains Trust – a charity that supports families like the Lyalls.

The family added: “From the moment of the very unexpected diagnosis, Isobel was determined to enjoy the time that we had left together and she definitely managed to achieve this and create some special memories along the way for all of us.

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“The money raised will support much needed research so that in the future other families won’t have to go through such a dismal prognosis as we did... just under twelve months from diagnosis to death.”

Friend Andy Scargill, from Parkgate Road, Chester, whose wife Morag took part in the run, described Isobel as ‘a good pal’ and ‘one of life’s beautiful people’.