We’re Doing it for Daisy! 

On Sunday, May 3rd, a community of family and friends, spanning 4 generations and even a few pets, are taking on the challenge of walking a marathon in Southwold, Suffolk, to raise much needed funds to continue research into the most horrific of childhood illnesses: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) . Most will be challenging themselves with the full marathon walk, the young and less able will be walking part of the course, but we’ll all be crossing the finishing line together. Here’s the reason why:

In May 2014, Daisy, a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece and friend was diagnosed with DIPG. She went from a normal child at school one day, with no sign of illness, into hospital the next and was having radiotherapy by the following week.

Daisy’s parents, Anna & Louis, were told there was little hope of a cure. Radiotherapy would buy a little extra time to make precious memories with their daughter, but were told to think in terms of months and weeks before the symptoms would take hold and their little girl would start to slip away. The shock, sadness and helplessness devastated us all.

Anna & Louis scoured the world looking for any treatment that would help their precious daughter; they would have gone anywhere, done anything.  They found a glimmer of hope in the UK with the brilliant Professor Steven Gill and his team at the Bristol Children’s Hospital. Daisy was the first girl in the world to receive pioneering brain surgery aided by a software guided robot to install a series of catheters attached to a titanium device made by a 3D printer, which could be used to deliver chemotherapy direct to the tumour.

Daisy underwent 3 rounds of treatment and although the initial results looked promising, the tumour proved too aggressive and sadly Daisy died on 17th November, hours after celebrating her 7th birthday. In 6 short months, Daisy lost nearly every function: walking, talking, swallowing and eventually breathing.

Daisy’s heartbroken family and friends are now trying to raise more funds for Professor Gill’s team. Through treating Daisy the team proved it is now possible to get the drug in safely, now they need to find the perfect drug. Daisy’s legacy will continue to benefit children and families in the future given what has up until now been an unequivocal death sentence.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any contribution you can make towards this cause. Every penny received goes directly to the team at Bristol.

Let's beat this horrific disease. Let's 'Do it for Daisy'.

For more information, please visit:

www.fordaisyanddipg.com

It's easy to donate by text, simply:

Text BROO63 £10 to 70070