Our daughter Daisy was diagnosed with high risk alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) on the 8th of August 2022, aged 12. She was treated across Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) with frontline chemotherapy over 9 months plus an additional 29 daily radiotherapy sessions. Daisy was due to start maintenance chemotherapy in March 2023, however, two new lumps were found at a routine scan. As a result, she started relapse chemotherapy in May 2023 enduring an additional 8/12 treatments. By the end of September the treatment stopped working, Daisy decided to STOP chemo treatment, she was experiencing all the side effects with no benefit. She made a decision with a maturity far beyond her years. An awakening to life that comes with experiencing deep suffering.

In November 2023, our beloved daughter Daisy tragically passed away at the age of 13 from the rare, aggressive childhood cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. She was our only child, her loss has left an immeasurable void in our family and our lives.

To honour Daisy’s journey and courage we launched Daisy’s Arc in partnership with Alice’s Arc in June 19th, 2024. By working together (the Arcs) we are stronger and can create a long-term, sustainable platform to bring about change.

The charity organisation is dedicated to raising critical funds for Rhabdomyosarcoma research. Despite affecting approximately 60-70 children in the UK each year, childhood cancers like Rhabdomyosarcoma remain severely underfunded.

Through Daisy’s Arc, we are working to raise awareness about Rhabdomyosarcoma, support others affected by it, and fundraise to help drive the search for better treatments, outcomes and ultimately a cure.

On October 12th, 2025, along with my Barclays colleagues Drew Eracleous, Craig Elliot, Rachel Keane, Kristen Bailey, Michel Thibault, James Tracey, Marie Bevan, Tim Kemp, Freddy Fay, Kiran Canoo, Michelle McCarthy, Megan Huseyin, Margaret Aylward and Riyaan Yesudian we will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in support of Daisy’s Arc. It is a particularly special event for us because this year we will also be joined in the run by an army of consultants and nurses from GOSH who were profoundly touched by Daisy’s life.

Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity.

Together we are stronger.

Together, we can change someone else’s story.

Warm regards,

Alan Birikorang