THE parents of a Highbridge “miracle baby” who bravely battled a brain tumour are urging people across the region to take part in Wear a Hat Day as part of Brain Tumour Awareness Month.

Dan Cole, 33, and Ellie Hawkes, 23 are urging everyone to get behind the event after their daughter, Lyra, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just five months old.

The tumour was successfully removed however the toddler then underwent a second procedure in June last year to save her eyesight which was threatened by a cyst on her optic nerve.

The family, of North Avenue in Highbridge, are now looking forward to Lyra’s second birthday in May.

Wear A Hat Day aims to raise money to improve the lives of patients and helps to fund research in the hope of ultimately finding a cure.

The event, on Friday, March 27, is the culmination of national Brain Tumour Awareness Month and will see people donning beanies and boaters, top hats and trilbies, fascinators and fedoras, while making donations to Brain Tumour Research.

Lyra’s dad, Dan, who works as a trainee gas engineer, said: “We were in total shock and disbelief when we were told our little baby had a brain tumour.

“It is the worst feeling you can imagine.

Lyra is our miracle baby and, happily for us, we are optimistic for the future as we have been told the tumour is unlikely to return.

“Many others are not so lucky.

“Brain tumours kill more adults and children under the age of 40 than any other cancer ... yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease.

“This is unacceptable which is why we are supporting Brain Tumour Research and Wear A Hat Day.”

The charity is urging people to get involved by wearing a hat and making a donation on Friday, March 27.

Full details and registration for a fundraising pack, as well as quizzes and competitions are available from www.wearahatday.org or call 01296 733011.

A donation of £5 can be made by texting the word HAT to 70660.