No one likes to think about childhood cancers or childhood cancer deaths but brain tumours are responsible for 1 in 5 childhood cancer deaths and are the biggest cancer killers in the UK. This is a hard things to consider but Daniella Logun, Alex, Raquelmi, Amanjot, Dylan and Tom were some of our children that did not survive their brain tumour/cancer diagnosis.

Like many children, Dannie’s initial symptom was a problem with the vision in her right eye but she wasn’t diagnosed until almost 2years later. This might be Dannie, Alex, Raquelmi, Amanjot, Dylan and Tom's stories but it doesn't have to be the same for other children.

Life is full of mysteries that often eludes us, particularly for families who have lost a children to brain tumours or other cancers. Everything changes because child bereavement is a unique journey unlike anything else and brings with it more powerful feelings of grief, isolation, anger, shame, guilt, depression or a sense of withdrawal from the community. Life has to be rebuilt through it's various layers and might involve a complete transformation. We know this because we have lived it and we do not pretend to offer all the answers but can offer friendship, love and support to anyone who might need an extra hand to get through their journey and rebuild.

We are the Daniella Logun Foundation (DLF) a growing children's cancer charity established in memory of Daniella Logun who passed away from a brain tumour in 2016. We are committed to finding purpose through the pain we have experienced of loosing Dannie and want to extend an arm of friendship and hope to other Children and Young people diagnosed with brain tumours, other cancers and their families, particularly those families who have sadly lost children to these illnesses.

Brain tumours are unlike other childhood cancers and not all brain tumours are terminal. Post diagnosis, the child is left with major disabilities (mobility, sight, hearing or speech loss) from the first few weeks. In cases where the diagnosis is terminal, sadly many of our families tell us they often feel disconnected and in isolation, struggling to cope with the grief, returning to work, possibly a reduced income and eventually withdraw from society due to reduced access to adequate emotional and psychological support necessary for rebuilding their lives. We are passionate about changing this and want to step into the gap and offer free counselling & wellbeing support to our children in Hillingdon hospital and the surrounding areas and reach more vulnerable siblings and families with accessible help at the point of diagnosis.

As April is Dannie's birth month, it is a wonderful opportunity for us to invite dads/fathers connected to this cause, to join us for a sponsored 10k Bike in memory of Dannie, Alex, Raquelmi, Amanjot, Dylan and Tom and our other children who have passed away from a terminal brain tumour/cancer diagnosis. Cycling is a fun, energetic activity that can be shared with friends and family in a safe environment. Through this, we can help people affected to make new friends and share their stories as they take gentle steps to reconnect with the community around them. We want to help bring this topic to the fore of our minds and community existence, so that we can help reduce the taboo around bereavement and raise awareness of the wellbeing challenges faced by people around us who may be experiencing this in isolation.

Event date, Saturday, 23rd April 2022, between 1:30pm to 2:30pm, starting off at St Matthew's Church Hall Yiewsley UB7 7QH through the Grand Union Canal Slough Arm, through Hollow Hill Lane Slough, Market Lane Slough, Thorney Mill Golf Park and back to St. Matthew’s Church Centre Yiewsley.

We will continue to raise awareness of childhood brain tumour/cancer deaths in our community and the holistic (physical, emotional, spiritual, academic & social) wellbeing challenges faced by our families. We ask you to please consider supporting our growing charity so that we can continue to reach more families at their time of need.

Thank you and see you on the 23rd of April!