March is brain tumour awareness month. It is also the month that the incredible, one-and-only Daddy Lutas sadly passed away. It doesn’t feel real that at the end of this month it will be two years without Dad.

Rather than let the grief swallow me up as it did last March, I’ve decided to do something positive. For me, for my mental health, for Dad, but also for a charity very, very close to our hearts: The Wight Brainy Bunch.

I could go on forever about what a lifeline The Wight Brainy Bunch were to us as a family. They organised and paid for the travel and hotels we needed when dad was having his surgery, treatment, scans and check ups. When we were unable to leave the house, they sent care packages filled with Dad’s favourite foods, they sent us flowers, and even now, to this day, they still send us and Dad’s two grandchildren goodies at Easter and Christmas. They found me a counsellor and paid for her, with no pressure on time scales or how many sessions I needed. On top of this, Kat regularly checked in with texts to ensure we were doing OK. She still does this now, too. Basically, there are no words to truly describe the impact this had on us. How we suddenly felt less alone. When facing the worst, most unimaginably awful time of our lives, The Wight Brainy Bunch were there, waiting patiently to help us when we needed but equally intuitively giving us our time and space when we just needed to be left alone in our bubble.

So this March I am combining one of Dad’s favourite things (hiking!) with The Wight Brainy Bunch’s campaign: March through March.

I am pledging to walk 150 miles in March, come rain, shine or snow - and I would so love it if I was also able to raise money for this incredible charity at the same time, too.

If you feel able to, I would be extremely appreciative of any donation amount.

Thank you 💙

A bit about brain tumours:

💚 Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40.

💛 Almost 12,000 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour, including 500 children and young people – that's approx 33 people every day.

🖤 Over 5,300 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year.

🧡 At least 88,000 children and adults are estimated to be living with a brain tumour in the UK currently.

💙 Brain tumours reduce life expectancy by, on average, 27 years, the highest of any cancer

💚 Just 12% of adults survive for 5 years after diagnosis.

💛 Over £700m is spent on cancer research in the UK every year, yet less than 3% is spent on brain tumours

The Wight Brainy Bunch provide emotional support and financial assistance to Isle of Wight families affected by this devastating disease.... Please help us raise awareness and funds with our 'March through March' Challenge 👣