ON the second anniversary of her brother Travis Moore’s death from a brain tumour at the age of 43, Natasha Randall cycled from London to Paris to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity in his memory.

Natasha, from Kingsley, was joined for the challenge by her step sister, Anna Stickland, and the determined pair not only completed the gruelling 300-kilometre ride but raised £1,560 for the charity and hope more sponsorship cash will flow in to improve the lives of other people affected by brain tumours.

Natasha and Travis grew up in Oakhanger with parents David and Carol and both attended Mill Chase School in Bordon. She said: “We are a small but close family and Travis’ death shocked all of us to the core. We miss him daily and the loss has been difficult to come to terms with.

"Travis was such a happy, outgoing guy and it seems so cruel that this disease has taken him when he had so much to live for.”

Natasha continued: “Travis ran several marathons and half-marathons and one of my most treasured memories was watching him run the Paris Marathon with such enthusiasm and courage, which is why I chose the Arc de Triomphe as our destination.”

Travis, a business manager who lived in Leicestershire with wife Jackie and children Scott, 13, and Amy, 12, was diagnosed with a brain tumour just over two years ago after suffering fatigue and severe headaches.

His symptoms were dismissed as depression by doctors and he was given anti-depressants.

Not content with the diagnosis, Travis went to see an optician after Jackie read about an optician who had diagnosed a brain tumour after carrying out an eye test.

The optician observed pressure building up behind Travis’s eye and referred him for an urgent MRI scan which revealed an inoperable tumour. He died just seven days later.

It was then that the family decided to help others by raising awareness of the The Brain Tumour Charity by setting up The Travis Moore Fund – an official supporter group that has already raised £20,000.

Natasha and Anna decided to do their own fundraising by taking on the Paris to London cycle ride.

“The start date was very emotional for all of us but by doing this challenge and raising funds for research it gives us hope that one day there will be a different outcome for others affected by brain tumours," said Natasha.

Four days after setting off from the London Eye, they arrived at the Arc de Triomphe to be greeted by Natasha’s children, Phoebe, 14, and Neve, 12, her mum Carole, and step-dad David Stickland. Anna’s children were also there to meet her.

Natasha and Anna self-funded the ride themselves.

“The London to Paris cycle ride is a popular charity run but we didn’t join an organised group.

“We didn’t pre-book and got overnight accommodation where we could and grabbed meals on the way, but we did have glorious weather,” said Natasha.

One of the highlights was when they were sitting in a French cafe, wearing their charity ride T-shirts and an English couple came up and gave them a donation.

Now they are back in England they hope people will still support them further.

Geraldine Pipping, the Brain Tumour Charity’s director of fundraising, said: “We are immensely grateful to Natasha and Anna for their determination to help others in the face of their own loss and we wish them the best of luck for their cycling challenge.

“We receive no government funding and rely 100 per cent on donations, so it’s only through the efforts of Natasha and Anna, and others like them, that we can work toward our goals of doubling survival and halving the harm caused by brain tumours.

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and people under 40 in the UK and survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 40 years. We need to change that.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/natasha-randall7.