Story

I am running the Virtual London marathon on October 2nd 2022 and the Manchester marathon on 16th April 2023. There will be various other races between both of these. I am raising money for Children with Cancer and Target Ovarian Cancer for a very special little girl who is a real life superstar!

In November 2021 Maia (pronounced May-a), aged 8 was rushed to Kettering hospital with severe abdominal pain, she was taken to emergency theatre with suspected appendicitis. Once in theatre they realised her right ovary had ruptured. There was no way to save her ovary so they removed it along with her fallopian tube and appendix.

In January 2022 after a problematic analysis the results confirmed it was Stage 3 Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor (SLCT) with elements of Rhabdomyosarcoma (a childhood soft tissue cancer). SLCT is a very rare type of ovarian cancer, which accounts for less than 1% of all ovarian cancers. It was also confirmed that since the rupture the cancer had spread causing widespread abdominal disease - and separately Maia tested positive for DICER1 gene mutation, a rare genetic disorder which can increase the risk of developing certain types of benign and malignant tumors.

During this time Maia was referred to the Paediatric Oncology unit in Queens Medical Centre Hospital in Nottingham and in February she started her chemotherapy treatment. However, the first cycle was ineffectual, and she was quickly switched to a more intensive high risk treatment plan of 9 cycles. After 4 cycles the new treatment yielded a very positive response, which significantly reduced the size of the main tumor.

In June, Maia had elective surgery to remove the remaining tumor and whilst the surgery was successful, unfortunately live cancer cells were found located away from the main site consistent with metastatic disease. She is now completing the remaining cycles of her chemotherapy and preparing to start 5-weeks of full abdominal radiotherapy to help reduce the risk of future spread. From mid-November Maia will start a chemotherapy maintenance programme for a further 12-months.

Though her difficult and unpredictable journey continues Maia’s radiant smile and joyful outlook never ceases to amaze and inspire those around her. Affectionately nicknamed by her family as ‘Warrior Princess’ she is passionately determined to fight this disease and in her own words ‘win this war inside my tummy’.

Please click on one of the team members to donate to the charity of your choice. One is Children with Cancer UK and the other is Target Ovarian Cancer. Both very worthy charities to help fund research into children who are diagnosed with cancer, rare types of cancer and ovarian cancer. Both charities will be very grateful, as will I and Maia's parents. I will continue to update this page as Maia continues her treatment.

Thank you so much for reading and for the support.

September 2021 in a family beach hut in Bournemouth