Next year promises to be a momentous one for a Bingley charity set up in memory of a mum who died of a brain tumour.

Six years since its launch, Andrea’s Gift is on course to appoint a senior scientist to lead a brain tumour research lab being developed at the Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine.

The appointment will commemorate a significant achievement for a charity established in memory of Andrea Key, who died aged 42.

Andrea’s Gift, launched to raise funds for brain tumour research, is understood to be the only charity in Yorkshire to focus on fundraising for such research.

To date, it has raised £900,000 and, next year, is expected to reach £1 million.

On Saturday, Andrea’s Gift hosted a bag-pack day at Marks & Spencer in Guiseley to support next year’s fundraiser, Meek’s Three Peaks, in June.

Supporters hope to conquer Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon in 24 hours to raise £100,000 to fund an additional PhD student to work in the research lab.

Carol Robertson, fundraiser and development manager for the charity, said: “The launch of the research lab in 2010 is a direct result of six years’ hard work, and it is very exciting to see such a positive result.”

The charity is based at Emerald Publishing in Wagon Lane, Bingley, where Carol, from Guiseley, met Andrea.

She said the charity was working closely with children’s charity Candlelighters to fund the lab.

Last June, Carol was involved in co-ordinating the charity’s biggest fundraising event to date – a 24-hour, 450-mile relay around the boundary of Yorkshire.

Earlier this year, Carol took part in a night-time Sportathon she and her supporters helped to organise.

And Carol recently visited the House of Commons, along with 14 other independent brain tumour charities, to raise awareness about brain tumour research.

Under the umbrella Brain Tumour Research, the charities hope to gain a national voice to raise awareness and pool their information.

For more information about Andrea’s Gift, call (01943) 870770 or 07918 882816; e-mail andreasgift@btconnect.com, or visit andreasgift.org.uk.