A new supporter group to help connect those affected by brain tumours is being launched in Cumbria.

The Brain Tumour Research Cumbrian Supporter Group, which is due to meet for the first time in Penrith this month, is a new initiative set up by the national charity Brain Tumour Research.

It aims to support brain tumour patients and their families in their fundraising towards finding better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for the disease.

Whitehaven woman Vicky Mason, who lost her father Chris Todd, aged 64, to a brain tumour late last year, will co-ordinate the new group.

She will be speaking about her dad’s diagnosis and treatment and her work with the charity which has included lobbying at Westminster.

She has raised more than £20,000 for vital research through a variety of events.

The first meeting will take place on April 20 at The Roundthorn Country Hotel, Penrith.

The charity’s director of research, Dr Kieran Breen, will give an insight into how funds are being invested in a network of Centres of Excellence where scientists are dedicated to improving outcomes for patients and finding a cure.

He explained: “Brain tumours cannot currently be prevented because their causes are not yet understood.

"Less than 20 per cent of brain tumour patients survive beyond five years compared with 50 per cent for all other cancers, and treatments for brain tumours lag seriously behind other cancers.

“At the current rate of spend it could take 100 years for brain cancer to catch up with developments in other diseases.”

In the UK 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour. Diagnoses in the north west are the second highest of any of the English regions and in 2014, 604 people were diagnosed - a 31 per cent increase since 2011.

Sara Eltman, north west fundraising manager, said: "The group is a great opportunity for people to meet others who are going through or have been through a similar experience in order to support each other and their fundraising efforts.

“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 research has been allocated to this devastating disease.”

The meeting, which is due to take place from 7pm to 9pm, is by invitation only. Email sara.eltman@braintumourresearch.org before April 18 to book.