Mollie King has been showered with support as she opened up about her dad's 'horrible' battle before his death which came just days after she gave birth to her first child. The BBC Radio 1 star shared the heartbreaking news that her father, Stephen, had died at the end of November months after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Taking to Instagram at the time, Mollie shared a number of sweet pictures with her dad and said she and her family were "heartbroken beyond words" following Stephen's death, sharing how their "world was shattered" when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in August 2022.
Mollie, who welcomed baby daughter Anabella in November with her cricketer fiancé Stuart Broad, also movingly shared how her dad had "held on" for a few extra days to meet his latest grandchild.
The former The Saturdays singer has kept her fans updated on her first months of motherhood but has now opened up about the loss of her dad during Brain Tumour Awareness month to help raise funds for charity as her sister, Laura, prepares to take on the London Marathon next month for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Posting a picture of her and her dad, Mollie, 35, penned: "This month is Brain Tumour Awareness month. I’ve always tried not to let myself think about losing someone I love, it’s too hard to think about, but last year this fear became a reality. In August my wonderful Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour and we had to say goodbye to him just 3 months later. It’s still very hard to write about, I’ve been putting off writing this post because it’s easier to push it to the back of my mind and try to keep as busy as possible to cover up the heartache.
"Dad was the best Dad you could ask for. So caring, funny, honest and the best Grandpa to the little ones in our family. I know how much he would have adored Annabella and am so thankful that he got to hold her. I think of him every single day and talk to Annabella about him when we’re winding down in the evening. For anyone who has lost someone, you might agree that the nights are the hardest, and talking about him in the past tense is something I hate doing.
"Dad’s life was cut short and his diagnosis came completely out of the blue - he was out walking Alfie with me the morning that everything changed. Dad was incredibly active, he ran 3 marathons and walked in Richmond Park almost every day. He had so much life left to live."
The new mum went on to share: "My family have been utterly heartbroken by what this horrible disease did to Dad and want to do all we can to raise awareness and funds for @thebraintumourcharity, who work to help everyone affected by a brain tumour or brain cancer.
"My sister Laura is running the London Marathon in April for this charity. Dad would be so incredibly proud! If you would like to support @thebraintumourcharity and my sister in her marathon, it would mean the world and certainly help give her that extra push to get to the finish line. Any donation, however big or small, is massively appreciated by us and the charity. Her sponsorship link is in my stories."
Mollie then concluded her post: "To find out any more information about brain tumours check out the @thebraintumourcharity website who share really useful information and offer fantastic support. Our lives will never be the same after losing our beloved Dad and our love and thoughts go out to anyone whose life has also been touched by cancer."
She was then quickly flooded with messages as ex-bandmate Una Healy replied: "So beautifully written Mollie, sending you and all of your family so much love." TV and radio presenter Nicki Chapman wrote: "I’m so sorry for your loss Mollie. This fantastic charity helped me enormously after my brain tumour surgery and, as you say, do the most incredible work & research into finding a cure and also offering support to anyone going through something similar. Sending love to you and the family."
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