My beautiful little girl May, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was three weeks old. She was, and remains, the youngest child in medical history to be diagnosed with this particular tumour, so her treatment was a trial run.  Multiple doctors from across the globe were recruited to her team and they told us she wouldn't survive. They made up a treatment plan as they went along and hoped for the best. 

She was five weeks old when she received her first chemo, and spent the next two years as an inpatient in hospital, fighting for her life. All these years later I still cannot find the words to describe what she went through and what it was like to have to watch her do it. 

Today my sweet May bug is a brave, bold seven year old, still defying medical expectations and still smashing doctors predictions. She is known to neuro-oncologists all over the world, and little pieces of that tumour are being used for pioneering research and to develop treatment plans, so that no other newborn babies have to be used as a guinea pig like May was. Her fight shaped the way these types of brain tumours are treated today. 

For May, surgery is not an option, and for now her tumour is under control. It will be the beast that she battles for the rest of her life, and she lives day to day with the permanent effects of having a brain tumour. Those that know her know she does it with astonishing resilience, a mischievous sense of humour and the odd swear word!

Brain tumours kill more children and young adults than any other cancer here in the UK, and still research is woefully underfunded. Children in the UK are dying from brain tumours that could have been treated but weren't caught early enough, because most of us are unaware of the symptoms, including GPs. Even when diagnosed, here in the UK treatment options are really limited because vital life saving research is underfunded. 

I'm raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity because they work smartly to fund research into cures, into ways of improving the quality of life of people living with brain tumours and into raising awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours among medical professionals and the general public; reducing diagnosis times and improving people's lives. 

What happened to May is happening to so many children and young people around the UK, and most of them will not survive it. I'm doing this skydive to raise money for a cause that is really doing something to change that. I'm paying for my skydive, so all the money I raise will go to The Brain Tumour Charity. They are who will help you, or someone you love if you are unlucky enough to become a part of the brain tumour world. Please sponsor me if you can.

Thanks guys, and a huge high five from May bug. xx