A DOCTOR battling a brain tumour called in to Lowestoft port on an ambitious round-Britain charity mission.Josie Phillips, a junior doctor at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, is sailing anti-clockwise around Britain with her husband Roger in a bid to raise �20,000 for Brain Tumour Research.

A DOCTOR battling a brain tumour called in to Lowestoft port on an ambitious round-Britain charity mission.

Josie Phillips, a junior doctor at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, is sailing anti-clockwise around Britain with her husband Roger in a bid to raise �20,000 for Brain Tumour Research.

Mrs Phillips, 27 was diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago, and was told last year that it had become malignant. Now she is determined to enjoy life and not let the disease stop her from accomplishing some of her dreams.

The couple set sail from Ipswich on Saturday, mooring at Lowestoft harbour for the first night of their Round Britain voyage, which they hope to complete within four months.

They were greeted by a fellow fund-raiser from Lowestoft, Wendy Savage of the Ellie Savage Memorial Trust, who lost her own daughter to a brain tumour.

As an outdoor enthusiast having grown up in Cornwall, Mrs Phillips was bitten by the sailing bug after meeting Roger while at university, which led to idea of the charity voyage.

She said: 'Over Christmas I was feeling very low, so Roger and I started to think about what I could do when I felt better and we hit upon the idea of sailing around Britain to raise awareness about the plight of brain tumour patients and at the same time fundraising for the charity Brain Tumour Research, as well as the Big C cancer centre at my local hospital in Norwich.'

Mrs Phillips started having headaches and 'vagueness' at 16, which doctors said was migraine or stress, until finally it was diagnosed as a brain tumour at age 21.

Despite operations to remove the tumour she graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in medicine in 2007 before starting work as a junior doctor in Norwich. In 2008 she discovered the tumour had grown back and had progressed, leaving her uncertain as to whether she would see her next birthday and meaning she had to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Mrs Phillips said: 'It has been great to have a challenge to focus on. Living with an incurable disease is extremely difficult and we hope that the funding we raise for Brain Tumour Research will give hope to others in the future.'

Mrs Savage encouraged people to support the couple, who have already raised �3,400.

To donate, or track their progress visit www.contessa32.co.uk