In October 2011 our 9 year old daughter Olivia was diagnosed with a large inoperable brain tumour. As treatment for this she received radiotherapy, chemotherapy and also surgery.

She was an amazing, inspirational young girl who never complained as long as she could be at school with her friends, the teaching staff and the teacher with whom she formed a very close bond. She showed us the true meaning of courage and touched the lives of all that met her or even just knew of her.

Unfortunately Olivia' story doesn't have a happy ending with her gaining her angel wings on 10 August 2013 after 22 months of gruelling treatment.

To celebrate Olivias life, to mark Olivia's 10 year angelversary we are raising funds for Beads of Courage UK and moment beads at Dougie Mac Donna Louise. Myself, Jason (Olivias dad), William, Harriet and some very special friends and colleagues are taking part in 10 fundraising events.

To Kickstart the fundraising, on 7 April, to mark what should have been Olivia's 21st Birthday. I am asking all of Olivia's friends and family to host their own coffee morning to celebrate Olivia's life and her love of cake!

Secondly during April Harriet, William and myself will be swimming 21 miles to commemorate what should have been Olivia's 21st birthday. To complete this we will need to swim 1,353 lengths between us during the 30 days alongside attending work, college or school.

Our third event is Olivias Aunt, Katherine, Harriet and I walking the Dougie Mac 5k on Sunday 23rd April where we welcome anyone to join us.(https://dougiemac.org.uk/events/5k-run-walk/)

The fourth event will be completed by Olivias dad and William and is a 10 mile local bike ride on Sunday 14th May (https://dougiemac.org.uk/events/bike-ride/).

On Sunday 11th June William and I will be walking the Potters Arf. (https://www.stoke.gov.uk/info/20035/sports/397/hanley_economic_potters_arf_marathon_2023)

On Friday 23rd June Katherine, Harriet, some work colleagues and I will be taking part in the Dougie Mac midnight to sunrise walk. (https://dougiemac.org.uk/events/midnight-walk/)

On a Sunday 25th June Harriet and her special friend Lyla will complete a 10 hour dance-a-thon at The Hive (formerly St Albans Community Centre) in Blurton along with Miss Emma and Miss Julie from Tweedale Academy of Dancing. Lots of other friends will be joining throughout the day. Olivia loved to dance and even performed in a dance show just a few months before she grew her angel wings. Tweedales embraced Olivia as part of the Tweedale family from the moment she joined from another dance school when she was 7.

During the month of July I will be walking 10,000 steps a day aiming for a minimum total steps of 310,000 steps.

The biggest of the challenges will be a sky dive completed by Alisha and myself on 28 July 2023.

During the week of 10th August, the family will be in Olivias favourite place, Newquay, Cornwall where we hope to complete the last fundraising challenge on 10th August. This will be a 10 mile walk along the costal path stopping at 3 of Olivia's favourite beaches - Perranporth, Holywell Bay and Towan beach. Walking this will be William, Harriet, Katherine, Robert, Alisha and myself.

Olivias story in brief - https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/stories/patient-story-olivia/

These events will be in memory of Olivia to celebrate her strength, resilience and courage.

Please use the links below to donate to either Beads of Courage UK or Dougie Mac Donna Louise.