The Challenges

I am taking on two incredible challenges— a half marathon, followed by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro—to raise vital funds for two causes very close to my heart: The Brain Tumor Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. My little sister was treated at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, and I want to give back to both the hospital that supported her and the charity working to advocate for faster diagnosis, better treatment and care for those living with brain tumours.

The first milestone will be the Mitja Marató Barcelona (Half Marathon) taking place on February 16th 2025. I aim to have raised at least 1/5 of the funds. The second milestone will be climbing Mount Kili, with the trip currently being arranged and dates set for late 2025.

I will be posting updates on these exciting challenges over the next year, on my social media and through Just Giving, to keep you all updated about my progress. Please keep in touch and reach out if you have any questions or words of support!

Alana's Story

Many of you who know my family will remember Alana, my little sister, and her bright spirit, and her love for nature, and art. For those who don’t know, Alana has recently faced a life-changing battle.

In August 2023 I received a call from my family in England, advising that Alana, just aged 10, had been taken to A&E, where she was then transferred to GOSH. She would be rushed into emergency brain surgery that evening to receive a life-saving operation. The operation would remove cysts that had grown to cover a large section of her brain, having developed from a brain tumour. A few days later, she underwent a second surgery to remove the remaining cysts so treatment on the tumour could begin.

Alana would then receive proton beam radiotherapy to shrink the tumour. Due to its location on her brain, it would be too high risk to remove the tumour completely. While we are so fortunate that she survived, Alana will live with the tumour. The surgeries have left Alana with permanent vision loss—completely blind in one eye and severely limited vision and colour blindness in the other.

Alana, now in recovery, is adapting to her new life with extraordinary courage. She uses her cane with confidence and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Once a passionate artist, Alana still enjoys painting and drawing, approaching her visual impairment as a challenge, not a limitation. Her resilience reminds us daily of how precious life is and that no mountain is too high to climb.

Before her diagnosis, Alana had suffered from severe migraines for years. After countless GP appointments and long waitlists, it wasn’t until she collapsed and was taken to A&E that an MRI scan was issued. Alana lived with severe pain from the migraines she experienced and now must live with a visual impairment.

My family has chosen to support The Brain Tumour Charity because of the vital research, advocacy and awareness work they do, alongside providing support to those impacted by this illness. Click here to see a digital leaflet on their work. In addition to this, we will be donating to GOSH Trust to show gratitude for the incredible, supportive and reactive care they provided for Alana. She was always made a priority and treated with respect and kindness.

Your Support Means the World

The funds raised will be split between The Brain Tumour Charity, which supports life-changing research and care for patients, and Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust, which provides world-class treatment for children with complex conditions.

Thank you for supporting me on this journey and helping to make a positive impact.