Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer .. that's a stark statistic, and one that I could not comprehend until my best friend Yasmin's daughter was diagnosed with an incurable tumour last year. 

I have known Yasmin for nearly 20 years now, we met as young mothers, our children still in car seats. We went on to become best friends, our children grew up together and we grew with them. 

As their younger years turned to older years, I watched as her eldest Amani took her first steps into adulthood, moving to Leicester to study Law, and then returning home to begin her Masters. Amani is a beautiful young lady on the cusp of adulthood, with a witty sense of humour and always a tale to tell. We spent many an evening and afternoon as families looking forward to plans for the future. 

The 29th of April 2020 was Amani's 22nd birthday. That evening Amani collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital. Due to Covid-19 she remained alone in hospital through scans and tests. She was diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiform, an incurable brain tumour. Her prognosis was 12 to 18 months. 

Over the next few weeks and months Amani endured gruelling and exhausting chemo and radiotherapy while all the while trying to come to terms with her diagnosis. Devastating news came when after this treatment it was found that her tumour had grown. With options for treatment in the UK dwindling Amani's family turned to a trial for ONC201 in the USA that had shown some promising results. But this treatment was not available in the UK and the family had to research and fundraise for Amani to have this treatment at a cost of £4'000 a month. 

Amani's latest scan in August brought the amazing news of some shrinkage in her tumour. Amani continues to fight on and her family are focused on helping and supporting her at every step. Amani's courage and determination is humbling and she has used this life changing event to try to help others. She chronicles her journey in her raw and personal podcast with a hope of raising awareness and supporting others and I am in awe of her family's courage and strength.

Over the last year I have seen this amazing family endure the most devastating prognosis. With that they have had to deal with the highly inadequate treatment available for brain tumours in the UK. While managing this diagnosis they have had to fundraise for life saving treatment for Amani themselves, treatment that should have been available to them.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this!

They are the only national charity in the UK focused on finding a cure for all types of brain tumours through campaigning to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK. 

Anwar & I are running the Ealing Half Marathon this September to raise funds for research into treatment and a cure for this devastating disease. 

For those of you that know our running journey, after many solo runs, this will be our first run together. Please support us in fighting 4 hope for those with brain cancer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eGiU6w4vys&t=4s

https://www.instagram.com/fight4amani/

https://www.youtube.com/user/yusra1973

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