Celebrity attention for an Esher woman’s petition supporting more brain tumour research could force MPs to debate the subject in Parliament, writes Nikita Jadav.

Journalist Maria Realf, 35, has started a campaign aiming to fund more research into brain tumours following the loss of her 26-year-old brother Stephen a year ago.

Footballer Peter Crouch, TV personalities Piers Morgan, Carol Vorderman and ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell have all shared the petition since its launch this month.

It has received more than 10,000 signatures and is eligible for a Government response.

If the petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be debated in Parliament.

Ms Realf, who works for the Mail on Sunday’s supplement magazine You, said: “There is still a long way to go in the fight against brain tumours, which kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, so I would like to urge everyone in Elmbridge to spare 20 seconds to sign and show your support for this important cause.

“I cannot rewind the clock and save my little brother, but I would love for something positive to come out of this.”

Stephen was a trainee Royal Air Force pilot before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 19.

Ms Realf said: “I have been deeply moved by the reaction to the petition – from the celebrities who kindly shared the link on Twitter to members of the public who have signed in their thousands – and I look forward to reading the Government’s response now that we have passed the first milestone.”

Brain tumours that are cancerous kill more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Just 20 per cent of children diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours survive five years beyond diagnosis, according to the brain tumour research charity.

Only £7.7m, which is 1.5 per cent of the nation’s spend on cancer research goes on brain tumour research.

Ms Realf aims to raise this investment to at least £30m in a year. To sign the petition visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/105560.