THREE York mothers whose children all suffered from brain tumours have launched a campaign to raise awareness of such conditions.

Julia Holding, Marie Hughes and Emma Taylor want to reduce the time it takes to diagnose children and young people with brain tumours in the UK.

The trio will start their campaign by manning a stall in St Helen’s Square in York tomorrow to draw attention to the HeadSmart: Be Brain Tumour Aware campaign, run by The Brain Tumour Charity.

Julia's daughter Ruby, of South Bank, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of seven and the illness has left the Scarcroft Primary School pupil blind.

Marie's son Oscar, of Dunnington, underwent an 11-hour operation to remove a brain tumour early last year but lost his battle for life this summer. A huge fundraising campaign to pay for him to receive treatment abroad has raised more than £100,000, which will now go to help other children with the condition.

Emma's daughter Juliet, of Dringhouses, was taken into hospital on Christmas Eve, 2010, after doctors discovered she had a life-threatening tumour on her brain. She was treated successfully but now suffers from regular headaches.

Julia said brain tumours were rare but 'when it happens to you, or someone you know, it feels like it is no longer rare.'

Marie said: "We want to do everything we can to help other children and their families. If this helps one child in York, or someone's friend or a friend of that friend, by raising awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours, hence prompting an earlier diagnosis, then it will have been worth it."

Emma said the stall will have balloons for children and literature for parents to take away to raise awareness of the symptoms and the mums will be wearing pink and black "head smart" hats that have been donated by milliner Eleda Hats of Guiseley.

Eoin Rush, City of York Council’s assistant director for children’s specialist services said the authority was pleased to support the HeadSmart campaign in the city, adding: "We are working closely with Julia, Marie and Emma to help them raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumour to parents in York."

For more information about the HeadSmart campaign visit headsmart.org.uk