Forever 9!!

In January 2021 my sister Bridget, her husband Charles and daughters Grace, Molly and Evie received the devastating diagnosis that Evie had diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

DIPG is a highly aggressive, rare form of brain cancer that forms in a child’s brainstem for which there is currently no cure. DIPG grows fast, and symptoms progress rapidly. The cancer has so far always been fatal and life expectancy is 9-11 months after diagnosis. More funding is needed to hopefully find a cure.

Evie endured 30 rounds of radiation and four separate brain surgeries. Evie’s brave battle ended in June 2021 at the age of 9, less than 6 months after her initial diagnosis.

The courage shown by Evie and the incredible way that Bridget, Charles, Grace and Molly have dealt with this tragedy is nothing short of miraculous.

My son, Josh and I together with Andy Gallagher will be cycling a sponsored cycle during the Easter holidays, from near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway to Snargate, Kent (some 550 miles) to the house in which Bridget and I (with my brother Peter and sister Rachel) grew up, to raise funds for Abbie’s Army. Abbie’s Army is a UK based DIPG brain tumour research charity founded in loving memory of Abbie Mifsud who was another victim of this abhorrent disease.

We will be extremely grateful if you could donate to this worthy cause.