Every nine days, a child in the UK is diagnosed with DIPG — an aggressive and incurable brain tumour that mostly affects children aged 4 to 11.

Despite medical advances, there is still no effective treatment for DIPG. Its location in the brain, fast progression, and lack of dedicated research funding make it one of the most devastating childhood cancers.

Last year, my dear friends Ellie and Jamie Thompson lost their beautiful little boy, Billy, to this cruel disease. Just 141 days after diagnosis — and heartbreakingly, just 15 days before his 5th birthday — Billy passed away at home on 31st March 2024.

Billy was everything a child should be: joyful, funny, sweet, and full of mischief. He adored his big sister, and loved laughing about silly things like bogeys and burps. Everyone who met him fell in love with him.

In Billy’s memory, Ellie and Jamie have founded Billy’s Battalion — a charity dedicated to raising awareness, funding vital research, and supporting other families affected by DIPG.

This December, I’ll be cycling for 13 days from Vietnam, through Cambodia, and finishing in Bangkok on Christmas Day — flying the flag for Billy every mile of the way, raising awareness of DIPG and, hopefully, to raise some money too. Any donation, big or small, would mean the world.

Thank you so much for your support,

Carly x