Friends of a woman who died after losing her 12-year fight against a brain tumour are hosting a charity aquathon in her memory.

Sarah Windibank, an aqua instructor from Witham, will be raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity with the event, in honour of close-friend Karen Stokoe.

Miss Stokoe bravely battled cancer for more than a decade, but passed away at her Braintree home earlier this year at the age of 39.

Ms Windibank said: “I am really looking forward to this event as it not only raises money but also awareness for such important causes, Karen was a dear friend who bought light and humour into everyone’s life that she met, I want to help keep Karen’s memory alive.”

Before her death, Miss Stokoe loved attending the aqua classes held by Ms Windibank, which is where the duo hit it off.

Several other aqua instructors will be taking part across the three-hour event, which takes place at Braintree Swim and Fitness Centre from 12.30pm on November 11.

Geraldine Pipping, head of fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful for all the efforts made by our fantastic fundraisers and wish them all the very best.

"We receive no government funding and rely 100 per cent on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of people like Sarah and her team that we can change these shocking statistics in the future and bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year.”

Tickets for the aquathon cost £10 and can be purchased by calling Ms Windibank on 07939631240.

Places are limited to 150. Some of the funds raised will go to Addenbrooks Hospital’s children’s ward.