Last year Ava, who attends Community Kids pre school was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour. Dispite all she has been through, she has returned to pre school and is still her cheeky happy self and does not let the challenges over come her. As a team, we are fundraising and raising awareness around brain tumours and how they can affect so many people of all different ages.

We are taking part in an ultra 50k challenge in Minehead on 3rd August.

This Is Ava's story....

"22nd June 2023 my world was turned upside down.

Ava was admitted to hospital as she was displaying some concerning symptoms, vomiting, squinting her eyes, unbalanced in her walking, unusual tiredness and sleeping all day. The hospital took her for an MRI, and within 1 minute of returning from the scanner Ava's father and I were whisked away to a private room full of doctors, consultants, and nurses.

The diagnosis. Brain tumour.

The size of an apricot, tiny when you hold it in your adult hand, but MASSIVE when you compare it to the size of our 2-year-old daughter’s brain. My world shattered. We were blue lighted to Bristol Childrens Hospital where we were told to say goodbye to Ava as she was having emergency surgery, we didn’t know what was going to happen, we didn’t know if Ava was going to survive. Several hours passed and at 3am Ava returned from surgery. Little did we know this was only the first out of multiple surgeries she would have to have.

Ava was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and a low grade Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Usually these brain tumours have a high chance of survival following complete removal during surgery, however the location of this tumour was too close to the brain stem to remove fully without causing Ava permanent disability in her limbs. This tumour would need to be managed for the rest of her life.

Ava's surgery was successful, the surgeon's removed 95% of the tumour, but following a period of recovery the tumour uncharacteristically grew back. Ava returned and had a second successful surgery in November 2023, and is now undertaking an 18month course of Chemotherapy to manage the remaining tumour." - Amanda ( Ava's mum)

500 children a year are diagnosed with a brain tumour.

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.