In your twenties you should be embarking on many firsts of adult life. Getting married, moving away from home, achieving your dream job and starting your chosen career. But for our daughter, Amani, normal life as she knew it effectively stopped on her 22nd birthday when she collapsed with her first seizure. Days later we found out she had terminal brain cancer, Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4, with a prognosis of just 12-18months. 

Repeatedly we were told by doctors that treatment in the UK would not cure Amani and at best would simply prolong her life by a matter of months. Finding such news is shocking enough but it soon became sickening when you find out that for decades our Government has woefully underfunded research into brain cancer. Whereas treatments and subsequent prognosis for other cancers, such as breast and lung cancer, have improved due to their substantial Govenment investment, brain cancer research has been left woefully underfunded.

So it was therefore no surprise but nonetheless still devastating to us as a family when after three short months, Amanis treatment in the UK had proved ineffective and she had effectively exhausted all NHS treatments.  We therefore had to source a new, trial, lifesaving medication privately from Germany. Amani has now been on this drug for 12months and has had substantial shrinkage of her tumour.

As a family we feel that such treatments should be available in the UK and under the NHS. But without adequate funding into brain tumour research families will continue to be failed, let down and having to effectively take treatments into their own hands to save their loved ones life. 

The charity, Brain Tumour Research, does a great job lobbying the Government to ensure more funds are allocated to brain cancer research. But this is a slow, lengthy process and many simply don't have the time to wait for such changes to manifest. We therefore have to act now and do all we can to help improve treatment options and outcomes for Amani and all  other fighters currently battling with brain cancer. 

Fight4Hope, our Fundraising Group for Brain Tumour Research

For 16 months our family has been on the most horrendous journey that anyone can find themselves navigating.  But it is our hope that one day other families will not have to suffer in this way and will have access to better treatment options and outcomes. 

For this reason we set up a fundraising group with Brain Tumour Research called Fight4Hope. We will do everything in our power, with the amazing help and support of family & friends, to help raise as much money as we possibly can to help fund brain cancer research.

We have been fortunate that many friends have already undertaken many sponsored challenges which has helped raise a great deal of funds. However, as a family, we wanted to do something significant too. This is why we've decided to organise Luton's first Walk of Hope. We hope you will support us and/or join in with this event.

When?  SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Where?  WARDOWN PARK, Old Bedford Road, Luton, LU

Time?  Meet 1.30pm at the Bandstand for 2pm start.

Registration? YES. Registration is essential. Please register at https://www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/walk-of-hope

How can I support the Walk of Hope? 

You can simply donate to this page and share widely to help our walkers raise as much money to fund research into brain tumours. 

Additionally, why not join the Walk of Hope and collect your own donations using this JustGiving page or by setting up you own justgiving page by clicking 'Start Fundraising' from this link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Fight4Hope. But don't forget to register at the link above.

#lutonwalkofhope #lutonwalkofhope21 togetherwewillfindacure #nomore #stopthedevastation

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Fight4Hope has been set up as a Brain Tumour Research Fundraising Group by Amani and her family to help raise as much money as they possibly can to help fund brain cancer research.