Fundraiser aims for rugby dad to see daughter play for England

Simon Cromack's daughter Ella plays for Harlequins in the Women's Premiership

A family is aiming to raise money for life prolonging treatment so a man with an incurable brain tumour can see his rugby star daughter play for England.

Simon Cromack, from Ashampstead in Berkshire, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in November.

His brother is leading the campaign in the hope he can one day see his 18-year-old daughter Ella - a fly half for Harlequins - play for the Red Roses.

More than £135,000 has already been raised towards the £250,000 target.

Mr Cromack said of his glioblastoma diagnosis: "It's incurable, but it doesn't mean there's not a lot of time and lots of things that we can do to look at how can we keep giving myself time - and to fight this all the way.

"Incurable doesn't mean you can't enjoy life for a great period of time."

Simon Cromack said the family was "remaining really positive"

The 51-year-old said his wife Steph and their two daughters had been "unbelievable", and the family was "remaining really positive".

Ella said her dad's diagnosis was "something life never really prepares you for", and that "words can't describe" how proud she was of him and his attitude towards his illness.

"The day after [getting the diagnosis] we were talking about the Go Fund Me and how we were going to raise money, and I think the way you've been able to just flip that switch and just focus on the now and also the future is pretty inspirational," she told him.

She added that it had given her "that drive to maybe push on even further" in her burgeoning rugby career.

Ella has been described as a "rising star of the women's game" by England Rugby

Ella has already played for England U18s in the Six Nations and recently scored her first professional try for Harlequins against Exeter.

She has been described as a "rising star of the women's game" by England Rugby, having started out at Newbury Rugby Club where her father helped out with coaching.

Mr Cromack said it would mean a "massive amount" to see his daughter put on the Red Roses jersey, and that he "couldn't wait to see that happen for her".

While he said his daughter's playing career wasn't the "be-all and end-all", it was "really important to see her thrive so quickly and do it her way", and that he and Steph were both "exceptionally proud".