THE mother of a young ski instructor who died after suffering from a brain tumour has won a prestigious radio award. Diana Rainback, who lives in Kimpton, was named the Chiltern FM Pride of Herts, Beds and Bucks Fundraiser of the Year at an awards dinner

THE mother of a young ski instructor who died after suffering from a brain tumour has won a prestigious radio award.

Diana Rainback, who lives in Kimpton, was named the Chiltern FM Pride of Herts, Beds and Bucks Fundraiser of the Year at an awards dinner held last week.

Her son Ali was 37 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and he died at the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted in June this year.

Ali was the owner of a successful skiing business and lived half the year in France and the remainder globe-trotting or back at his home. He was due to be married later this year.

During his illness and subsequent death the family, which includes father Ian, brother Simon, sister-in-law Jo and Ali's fiancée Jeanette, became known as Team Rainback.

They pledged to raise more than £100,000 for the hospice where he died - and it was for that work that Diana won the award.

At the ceremony she said: "There are people here from across the three counties who have been nominated for amazing things - I feel I am just doing what comes naturally in raising money for the hospice which helped to care so wonderfully for my son."

The campaign has also received support from radio presenter and author Janey Lee Grace who can be heard on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio Two.

She joined them at an open meeting at the Berkhamsted hospice where she signed copies of her book entitled Imperfectly Natural.

So far Team Rainback has raised £40,000 and future fundraising events include a bike ride from the UK to Courcheval in France.

More information on raising funds in Ali Rainback's memory can be found at www.justgiving.com/alirainback