30:30 Challenge in memory of Anna

Rachel Cowan and Sarah Lauchlan are raising money to remember Rachel's sister Anna Marshall (pictured) who died from a brain tumour (Image: Archant)

After her sister died of a brain tumour in April, Rachel Cowan decided she was going to raise money for Brain Tumour Research to help to prevent other families going through the experience her family did.

Mrs Cowan, together with her friend, Sarah Lauchlan and other friends, are taking on 30 fundraising challenges and events to raise money for Brain Tumour Research, a charity founded in 2008 to raise funds for research to improve the outcomes for brain tumour patients.

The two women, both physiotherapists, are taking part in the fun challenges in memory of Anna Marshall – and to coincide with both their 30th birthdays.

'My sister Anna was ill for three years and she was 31-years-old when she died,' said Mrs Cowan, who is from Gorleston.

'From when she was first diagnosed and when she felt well enough she would fundraise, so I wanted to carry that on. I wanted to do something to raise money for the charity to help prevent other people from dying from brain tumours. Sarah and I thought it would be fun to do some fundraising challenges.'

The pair have called their fundraising effort the Team Anna 30:30 Challenge, and hope to raise £2,740, which is the cost of a day's research at a specialist centre.

So far Mrs Cowan and Mrs Lauchlan have cycled 52 miles up and down Marriott's Way; walked the Paston Way from Cromer to North Walsham; and took part in the Great North Run with friends Jodie Frankis and Alice Kirk.

'I'm not a runner and the Great North Run was awful, it was very emotional, hot and difficult.

'It was hard but it was an amazing thing to be part of,' said Mrs Cowan.

'I was blown away by the donations; we must have raised £500 on the Great North run alone.'

Complete nine Norfolk park runs, sell homemade greeting cards and take part in a New Years day North Sea dip are among some of the challenges the women and their friends are hoping to complete.

Their final challenge is set for June 2015 – which will be a celebratory cheese and wine evening.

Their efforts have so far raised over £1,474 and Mrs Cowan is happy with the amount they've raised since the challenge started in June.

'We were hoping to be half way with our fundraising at Christmas. We've been doing the challenges three months and are overwhelmed by the support and donations.'

To sponsor Mrs Cowan and Mrs Lauchlan, visit justgiving.com/teamanna3030. To find out more about their challenges, visit facebook.com/teamanna3030

Are you holding a fundraising event for charity? Email rebecca.murphy@archant.co.uk