Jennifer Blakeley
3 Mountains, 2 People, 1 Goal
Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research
Story
This year we’re having a summer holiday with a difference; it will be hard work, challenging and with no doubt a few tears along the way. Some holiday I hear you say. That’s because Alex (aged 11) and myself (somewhat older!) are going to climb the Three Peaks! That’s Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell in England and finally Snowdon in Wales; a total of 23 miles up and down mountains with an ascent of 3000m. Help!
But why? Why not go and lie on a beach somewhere and have a REAL holiday? I’ll tell you why. Alex used to go to school with a little boy called Taylan, he was a year above him, but they knew each other nonetheless, what with it being a small village school and living in the same village. Then sadly and suddenly Taylan was taken from this world with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma – a brain tumour to you and me. Leaving behind his parents and two younger brothers, we as a family cannot imagine the pain they have been through losing a happy seven-year old child.
This August will see the 5th Anniversary of Taylan’s untimely death and we want to do something to help. Taylan’s parents continue to work relentlessly to raise funds for research into brain tumours even since that day. In Taylan’s memory, they set up Taylans Project to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research and they also work closely with the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford providing UK holidays for terminally ill children and their families, as well as financial support for those who need it.
Brain tumours receive less than 1% of the national spend on cancer research and yet they are the biggest cancer killer of children and those under 40. Survival rates remain low for brain tumour patients and more worryingly, deaths are increasing which is why it is so important to continue to provide funds for sustainable research into brain tumours.
We ask that you please support us with our challenge with only as much as you can afford, to help them continue with their amazing work. For more information on Taylan’s Project, please visit www.taylansproject.com