A DAD of two who fought a valiant, seven-year battle against an aggressive brain tumour has died at the age of just 39.

Steve Lloyd died on Sunday with his family, including his wife, Angela, by his bedside. His death came just six months after the former tube driver had to tell his two young daughters he was dying.

The lifelong Hammers fan, from Hockley, had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme brain tumour in 2008 and, despite lengthy treatment, he was dealt the blow a year ago that his condition was inoperable.

As a testament to his determination, Steve and his familywere campaigning to raise funds for brain tumour research right up until the end.

Angela, who has been married to Steve for 14 years, last month told the Echo of the couple’s courageous decision to tell their children, Bethany, 12, and Chloe, ten the heart-breaking news their dad’s condition was terminal.

She also spoke of her “cheeky, amazing and handsome husband”

and his lion-hearted fight which saw him endure 11 rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the brain.

Angela said yesterday: “We were with Steve as he died peacefully and quietly on Sunday morning.”

Steve worked on the underground for 22 years. It was a job he loved and he only retired when he was told he had a year to live. He and Angela then decided to make the most of the time he had left. With their girls they travelled the world, including enjoying unforgettable holidays in Lapland and Disneyland.

Angela said this enabled them to forge family memories that will never be forgotten.

Steve’s battle, however sad and tragic, was not in vain. Last month he inspired a unique cycling event in London which raised £25,000 for the charity Brain Tumour Research – which has supported the family.

The event saw Angela, as well as his friends and colleagues at Transport for London cycle the length of the district line – 74 miles, taking in the 61 stations.

Steve’s love of West Ham fan also saw the event supported by Hammers’ full-back and England footballer Carl Jenkinson.

Sue Farrington Smith, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “Our thoughts are with Steve’s family and friends at this dreadful time.

Another husband, another father, has been lost to this awful disease.

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 and yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research.”

Last month Angela opened up to the Echo about the family’s determination to ensure Steve’s story would not be forgotten and on the urgency for more funds to be invested into brain tumour research.

She shared the moment the couple had to tell their children their daddy would never get to see them grow up.

She said “I sat next to Steve on the sofa and the girls sat opposite us. I didn’t want to frighten them so tried my hardest not to breakdown as I said, ‘You know daddy has been ill and has been having scans and treatment to help him feel better?

‘Sadly, it isn’t working and he is going to get very sick. We don’t know how quickly it is going to happen or exactly what is going to happen, but when we find anything out we are going to tell you’.

“I went on to explain that there would come a time when daddy would die and wouldn’t be with us anymore.”

A legacy that will live on... new research centre opens

STEVE’S legacy will live on. His life inspired the cycling challenge that raised £25,000 and his death will surely do the same.

In fact, Steve died just three days after the achievements of the dozens of cyclists who pedalled the length of the District Line were recognised at the opening of a new brain tumour research centre.

The cyclists’ efforts were commemorated with a unique tile on a Wall of Hope at a new Centre of Excellence which was officially launched at the Burlington Danes building adjacent to Hammersmith Hospital in London.

Each tile is dedicated to patients, their families, friends and corporate supporters and represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research.

Two of Steve’s former District Line colleagues, Dean Brown, an advanced train maintainer from Ickenham, and Leon Hall, an upgrade delivery manager from Southgate, were among patients, carers, scientists, clinicians and charities from across the UK who gathered for the opening.

The new centre joins others at Queen Mary University of London, and at universities in Portsmouth and Plymouth, to become the fourth centre of its kind funded by the national charity Brain Tumour Research.

The launch of the groundbreaking partnership with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (London) means the charity is more than half-way towards its aim of creating a network of seven centres.

Something must be done – and quickly. Twenty per cent of all cancers spread to the brain and more people under 40 die from brain tumours than any other type of cancer.

Despite these statistics brain tumour research is woefully underfunded.

To help or donate, visit www.braintumourresearch.org