Richard and I met in 2002, and he became an incredible stepdad to my three daughters. We married in 2003, and our daughter Rianna was born the following year. Life was good—Richard was working, and we were thrilled as grandchildren began to arrive.

Having been told he had sciatica, Cyril was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumour in 2008. Their struggles to secure treatment and come to terms with the impact on their young family led Cyril and his wife Becky to set up the Hillingdon Brain Tumour Group.

My daughter Daniella, then 11 was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and given and very short time to live.