400 Ascot students joined their teacher during a hat-themed fundraiser after her son passed away from a brain tumour just weeks after he was diagnosed.

Ed Bray, a former pupil of Ascot Heath School was an active member of TS Windsor Castle which he joined as a cadet at age 13 before becoming a member of staff.

The fundraiser, which was held by his mother – Gill Bray – who is also a teacher at Ascot Heath Primary School aims to raise money to help find a cure for the disease.

Gill completed the challenge on Thursday, March 28 where she wore 19 hats throughout the day to represent his age when Ed sadly lost his battle.

She was joined by 400 pupils between the ages of four and 11 during ‘Wear a Hat Day’ to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research.

She said: “Ed was working as a water sports instructor in Greece when he collapsed at work. We had seen him only a few weeks before and there were no signs anything was wrong.

“We got a call from his boss who told us he was in hospital. When we spoke to Ed his speech was slurred and later that day he called to tell us he had a brain tumour.”

After under-going surgery in Greece, Ed flew back to the UK where he underwent five operations. 

To the dismay of the family, doctors relayed that nothing would save him from the brain tumour, but they could buy him more time.

After staying in hospital for five weeks after his diagnosis, he passed away in hospital in November 2022.

To mark Brain Tumour Awareness month, the 51-year-old Mum shared her story and held the fundraiser within the school where she aimed to raise £2740, which will fund one day’s research.

According to the charity, wear a hat day is an annual event raising money to bring hope to brain tumour patients and their families.

Every March, as Brain Tumour Awareness Month comes to a close, people from all walks of life put on their favourite hat at work, in school, with friends and family, and hold hat-themed events and make donations to Brain Tumour Research help find a cure for brain tumours, which kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.