The family of a seven-year-old who died of a brain tumour are calling on the Government to invest more in finding a cure.

Julie and Gary Phelan, of Hermitage Way, Stanmore, set up charity Ali's Dream after losing their only daughter Alison to a brain tumour in June 2001, just three weeks before her eighth birthday.

Mr and Mrs Phelan and their sons Matthew and Graham were among patients and their families, carers, scientists and charities who went to Westminster to present a manifesto to MPs.

To date they have raised nearly £1 million to fund research into paediatric brain tumours.

Mrs Phelan said: “Ali would have been 21 if she was still with us today - her life ahead of her. We will never see her get married or have children.

“But we are proud that Ali’s Dream’s supporters, including Beverley and Albert D’Lima who set up Jack’s Goal in memory of their son, Helen and Craig Lowe who have a son with a brain tumour, Ali’s nurse Harry Taylor as well as two of Ali’s Aunties Penny Hey and Sue Farrington Smith all here with us today, have helped us achieve a lasting legacy – in particular funding a laboratory within the Centre of Excellence at Portsmouth dedicated to Ali.

“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 is allocated to this devastating disease. This is unacceptable.”

The Invest In A Cure manifesto, presented to MPs at the Speakers House on Tuesday, March 17, invites the UK Government to work with Brain Tumour Research to invest in research and prioritise treatment for brain tumour patients.

More specifically, it calls on the government to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £30 to £35 million per annum - the same level of investment cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia receive – and create a national register of all site specific cancer research to track all research work, grants and results.

Sue Farrington Smith, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We have a clear set of recommendations for MPs that represent the voice of our members and supporters.

“We need a clear plan from the Government to start the changes needed that will give patients the confidence that more effective treatments are being identified and ultimately cures will be found.

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