Take a look at the picture above. Look at the beautiful smile, coming from the most courageous little girl I am proud to call my daughter. Her name is Summer Tiffin and I am her mummy

In 2005, I gave birth to my first daughter. She was the first girl to be born into our family for some time, and so, naturally, we all spoilt her rotten. She was always a happy, smiley baby, and even when she started to enter toddlerhood, she maintained this air of positivity. Summer always managed to brighten a room with her wicked sense of humour, and could bring even the sternest of adults to tears of laughter in an instant.
In 2006, Summer began to complain of pain in her arm, and as the weeks went by I became more and more concerned about a swelling that was developing.

After several visits to the doctors, and many tests, I was taken into a
room and given the heartbreaking news no parent should ever have to hear. My beautiful, perfect little girl had a very rare form of cancer, called
Rhabdomyosarcoma. 
For the next two years, Summer battled her way through endless tests, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and eventually an amputation in an attempt to save her life. Summer endured more in
just two short years than most people would in a lifetime, yet always had a smile on her face. 

In November 2008, we were given the devastating news that despite everything, Summer’s cancer had returned, only this time, she was terminally ill. The tumours had spread behind her heart and into her stomach, and they were just too far advanced for any treatment. The doctors estimated that she would be with us until Easter, but tragically, 15 days later, Summer passed away at home with me.

To continue raising awareness of childhood cancer and to help raise funds towards a charity which we feel supports families through ongoing and continuing care we have chosen The Joe Ellis Trust. The Joe Ellis Trust helps Isle of Wight children who have cancer and their families in their time of need. We will also be splitting the money raised with the children’s ward at St Mary’s IOW as Summer spent a lot of her time there and we would love to help purchase some new items for the play room. 

As a family we are desperate to raise awareness for the support needed for families and loved ones going through experiences such as this, on Aug 9th 2019 myself and Summer's 2 Aunties Kim and Shainee are challenging ourselves to hike 70 miles around the perimeter of the Isle of Wight in as little time as possible. We are prepared to camp!

So please, if you could spare even just a couple of pounds to support us in not
only raising awareness for all childhood cancers, but in helping to keep Summer’s memory alive, and so that families can continue to be
supported through the most unimaginably painful, tragic and heartbreaking of circumstances.