Two ukulele groups have been inspired by a "sweet" St Albans girl, who sadly died from brain cancer, to take part in a charity fundraiser.
Summer Ukuleles and UkeRythmics will take part in Brain Tumour Research's Wear A Hat Day, taking place on Thursday (March 28).
Holly Atkins Fooks, from Marshalswick, began suffering from migraines, pain behind her eyes, nausea and vomiting in July 2014.
Despite a scan revealing an abnormality on her brain, it was not until March 2016 that she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Holly underwent two debulking surgeries, six weeks of radiotherapy and three courses of chemotherapy but, sadly, her glioblastoma (GBM) continued to grow.
By the time she died in September 2017, the 11-year-old was blind and had been bedbound for several months.
Her grandmother Jacky Atkins, from Hemel Hempstead, said: “Holly’s heart fought to stay beating.
"It was strong and young, but the evil forces of the brain tumour finally overcame her body and her heart stopped.
"It was the saddest day of my life.
“She was the sweetest, most beautiful girl, so loving and caring, and what she went through was awful.”
In memory of Holly, the 73-year-old - who taught at Hemel's Gade Valley Primary School for 40 years - is preparing to support the Brain Tumour Research charity’s Wear A Hat Day fundraiser.
Jacky plays in both ukulele groups, the Last of the Summer Ukuleles based in Bedfordshire and the UkeRythmics based in Hertfordshire, which are supporting the event by donning hats during performances and collecting charity donations.
The self-taught musician continued: "I used to teach guitar and recorder at Gade Valley and when I retired, I made the transition to ukulele.
"I just thought it looked like great fun. It’s a social instrument which comes in different shapes and sizes, tenor, soprano, concert and what I play now, baritone."
Jacky has already raised £2,740 over years of fundraising, enough to cover a day of research at one of Brain Tumour Research's centres.
She now hopes to raise enough money for a second day of research.
She added: "Research is the only way they’re going to find a cure. I hope our support helps prevent other families from having to go through what we did.”
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, commented: “Holly’s tragic story is a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of brain tumours, which can affect anyone at any time.
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"They kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
“We’re determined to change this but we can’t do it alone.
"We’re really grateful for the support of Jacky and her fellow ukulele players and we wish the Last of the Summer Ukuleles every success with their upcoming Wear A Hat Day fundraiser.
"Together we will find a cure.”
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