A SAMBA band made up of Halesowen students has performed a fundraising concert in support of a Stourbridge brain tumour patient.

Pupils from Earls High School, Halesowen, played a selection of samba hits, at the Ryemarket shopping centre in Stourbridge.

The school is raising awareness of brain tumours, inspired by a young mum diagnosed with the disease.

Katie Smith, 34, is living with a grade three oligoastrocytoma and has been told she might not make it to the age of 40.

She has undergone several operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy since her diagnosis in 2014.

Katie and her husband Luke are working with the Brain Tumour Research charity and have set up a Fundraising Group under the umbrella of the charity, Brainstorm.

Naomi Sevier, assistant headteacher at Earls High School, said: “The students had a wonderful time performing at the samba event and they learned about the historic underfunding of brain tumours.

"We had a fantastic day, in beautiful weather conditions, and raised £250 for Brain Tumour Research.

“Katie and I have been friends for more than 10 years; we met while teaching at Pegasus Academy, Dudley.

"She is an amazing friend and I am grateful that my colleagues and pupils at Earls High School are supporting her.

"We also enjoyed taking part in Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day earlier this year and I’m looking forward to taking part in more fundraising events.”

Katie added: “I was touched that so many students and teachers from Earls High School gave up their Saturday to 'make some noise' about brain tumours.

"They performed so well and attracted quite a crowd.

"During the breaks in their performances we had many conversations with members of the public who had lost loved ones from a brain tumour.

"It made us realise how many people are affected by this disease.

“Living with a brain tumour has completely changed my outlook on life and I try to make the most of every day.

"I recently held a Fake 50th fancy dress birthday party, despite only turning 34.

"I’ve decided to make each birthday extra special – choosing to acknowledge the milestone celebrations I may not live to see.”

Carrie Bater, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research in the Midlands, said: “We are thankful to the students and teachers at Earls High School who are so committed to fundraising for Brain Tumour Research.

"We hope that they inspire other schools and local businesses to support Katie by holding their own fundraising events.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK; it also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

The charity is calling for an annual spend of £35m in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

To donate to Brainstorm go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katiecake13