A FATHER from Wimborne who was diagnosed with a fatal brain disease just before Christmas is looking to make lasting memories with his two daughters.

Mark Hayward, a 36-year-old teacher at Poole Grammar, has been diagnosed with low grade glioma after having trouble coordinating his foot.

A fundraising page set up in his name by Mark’s brother-in-law Ben Woodward has already raised more than £400, which will go towards helping the family make memories with their dad.

Mark’s wife Kate said: “It started back in August when we were expecting our second daughter. Over the last two years we have had eight miscarriages.

“We have fought so hard to have our lovely children, so we want to do our best to make as many lasting memories with them.”

After having an MRI scan for a possible stroke, Mark was told he had a low-grade glioma – a disease with no known cure.

Some of the money donated will also go to fund research into proton beam therapy, which is used to treat cancer in children and young people as their cells are still developing. However, at an expected cost of £60,000, the high-risk procedure is not often used on adults.

Speaking after the surgery on December 23, Kate said she had to remain hopeful for her children.

“I’m going to have to go home and tell my daughter that her dad won’t get better, which will probably be the hardest thing I have ever had to do,” she said.

“You have to try and be hopeful, especially to the children and hope that the doctors and surgeons are able to do something about it.

“The next few days will hopefully become easier as it sinks in.”

The goal of the fundraiser is to make it possible for Mark and Kate to create life-long memories with their two girls. Most of all, Mark wants to be able to achieve his dream to take his daughters Ivy and Trudy to Disneyland.

“The fundraising page has already raised a lot of money, I couldn’t believe how much had been raised,” said Kate.

“It is the last thing you want to hear before Christmas, but we don’t want to let it spoil the occasion for us.”

To find out more and donate to the fundraising page, visit gofundme.com/f/making-memories-fund-for-mark-hayward-family