Back in January of this year, our beautiful mum, Josie, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. As you can imagine, this news was earth-shattering for our family and life for us has now irreversibly changed.

Our family life has always centred around laughing and not taking ourselves too seriously - and this is a mantra we continue to live by. Whilst we have encountered unfathomable heartbreak over these past six months, the resilience and sheer strength of the Bate household has remained steadfast, and we still find plenty of opportunities to laugh and enjoy family time together amidst our profound sadness.

That being said, life is now incredibly different to what it was pre-diagnosis. It is hard to put into words the practical and emotional challenges we have had to navigate as a family since January, let alone the challenges mum personally faces and which only she will understand. We are in awe of our beautiful, hilarious, kind, generous, witty, outrageous and pink-lipped mum.

We have been lucky enough to be supported by the most incredible team at the Royal Marsden, headed up by Dr Liam Welsh, and in whose hands we feel safe.

It has always been mum who has inspired me to exercise ever since she joined a beginners running course ten years ago. It therefore seems incredibly fitting to be raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity by running the Royal Parks Half on Sunday 12th October 2025, alongside my sister Louise. If you would be kind enough to donate anything you can, you will be contributing to an incredibly important charity to us and whose research is helping improve the lives of people currently living with brain tumours. You will be directly helping our wonderful mum.

As you can see from the name of our fundraiser, Louise and I will be running the royal half for the true queen in our lives: HRH Josie Bate, our very own mum.

With a huge amount of love, thanks & gratitude as always,

Emma & Louise

xxx