A MUM who tragically lost her son to a brain tumour wants to try and help prevent more young people dying from the cancer.

Pauline Dewar, from Beaminster, lost her son Stephen to a brain tumour in 2011 and is hoping to make more people aware of the danger of brain tumours in young people.

She is also urging people to support Bridport Hat Festival on Saturday, September 5 – whose chosen charities are supporting brain tumour research – in any way they can.

Pauline herself is currently working with the Brain Tumour Research Charity, one of the chosen charities of the festival, to raise money for vital research.

Stephen’s battle with brain cancer began in March 2008 when he was 25 and playing football for Beaminster.

Ten months later, Stephen had had two more seizures and doctors told his parents he must have developed epilepsy.

A scan though revealed that he had a brain tumour and he soon after had surgery to remove it.

Following the operation, Stephen’s confidence and speech were badly affected.

He passed away in March 2011, when he was just 27 years old.

Pauline now wants to help raise awareness and prevent another family going through what they have.

She said: “Until Stephen was diagnosed I knew nothing about brain tumours. Then I learnt that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer is allocated to this devastating disease.

“I can’t do anything for Stephen but I want to ensure that his lasting legacy is greater funding for research and much more awareness about this disease.”

Pauline is urging anyone who attends the Hat Festival to donate generously to the charity.

If you can’t make it to the Hat Festival, you can make a donation of £5 by texting HAT to 70660.