We will be running the London landmarks half marathon on April the 6th and raising money for the Brain Tumour charity.

On the 30th of June 2017 Ava Ball died at nearly 9 months old of a Melanoma Tumour. Ava was Vicky’s niece.

She was born on the 9th of October 2016, and when she was around two months old Vicky’s sister Stacey found a pea size lump on the back of Ava’s head. The doctor wasn’t concerned as it was around the area of her soft spot,. Over the next two months it grew to the size of a tennis ball and Stacey took Ava to another doctor, for a second opinion. This doctor referred her to Swindon Great Western Hospital.

The hospital took months to get back and Vicky’s sister becoming frantic rang them every day for a cancellation. Finally a cancellation came through on the 7th of May 2017, Ava was sent straight in for an MRI.

They couldn’t tell exactly what it was and Vicky’s sister had to go to Oxford the next day. Ava was kept in overnight before going to Oxford, when they got to Oxford on the 8th, Ava had to have a biopsy.

Ava was kept in for a week after the biopsy was taken. Then the real nightmare started.

Vicky’s sister was told that Ava had malignant melanoma, which was an extremely aggressive brain tumour. At this point whilst very bad news, knowledge of knowing and being able to start treatment was comforting, Ava was taken home.

About a week later Ava’s head started weeping, she was taken back to GWH and she was kept in overnight and sent back to Oxford first thing in the morning. A surgeon came to see Ava and said they were going to remove the tumour the next day.

It was major brain surgery and after 4 hours she came back. They could only remove 40% and twice she was revived on the table. After that a further blow was delivered, Ava couldn’t have chemotherapy or radiotherapy because it wouldn’t touch/do anything due to the location of the Tumour and it was confirmed it was terminal cancer.

Vicky’s sister and Ava went home and they tried to continue to live as best they could.

A really hard decision had to be made by Vicky’s sister to take Ava in to a hospice, on the 20th of June Ava was taken over to the Helen and Douglas hospice in Oxford. It was easier that way, because they could help do the bandages on her head and support Stacey, at this point in time she was on permanent medication to stop pain and make her life a little easier.

On the 29th of June it was Ava’s brother’s birthday and Adam was six, a special day for all and a celebration. Vicky popped in on her way home from Maidenhead, Vicky remembers it so clearly…This was Vicky’s last visit to see Ava, her sister and her family were all there.

Ava died in the early hours on the 30th June 2017 surrounded by her family.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we're moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.

We're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And we're doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can't wait.