Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am running the London Marathon on 21 April 2013 (my first marathon) to raise money for Abbie's Army in memory of my daughter, Elsie, who tragically died on 21 March 2012, aged 6, as the result of a brain tumour which had been diagnosed 9 months earlier, in June 2011.

Sadly, there was (and still is) no cure for Elsie's brain tumour (Diffuse Instrinsic Pontine Glioma) and more funds are desparately needed for research into this deadly childhood condition.

Abbie's Army was started by the mother of Abbie, who died from the same condition as Elsie and who was also treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.  Abbie's Army is committed to funding research for children's brain tumour resarch and in particular DIPG.

Elsie's mother, Anita, together with Abbie's mother and the mother of another girl, Grace, who also died from the same condition as Elsie and who was also treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, is raising money for children's brain tumour research by undertaking a gruelling 24 hour journey across the Lake District over 71 kilometres in May 2013 and I would also urge you to sponsor her. Please watch the video on youtube which will also tell you more about the effects of DIPG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCmb3JmRbOE

or follow this link http://www.justgiving.com/mumsagainstdipg or search for M.A.D. (Mums Against DIPG) Challenge! Lake District 2013.

The money I raise will go to the same cause.

I am also raising money for Clic Sargent who kindly offered me the place to run in the marathon, but I have raised a sufficient amount for them now and I would like all further donations to go to Abbie's Army.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.