Today is World Cancer Day. Today I launch this site for Amelie

Early August 2018 my cousin Kathryn had her first child, Amelie, barely a month after losing her wonderful mum to brain cancer.

Just after her 4th birthday, and when Kathryn’s second child Arthur was 7 months old, Amelie was unbelievably and devastatingly diagnosed with a Grade 3 Ependymoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Instead of starting school, Amelie underwent brain surgery and an 11 week long stay at QMC before heading to Germany to receive proton beam therapy for 6 weeks. During this time, Amelie needed more emergency surgery to save her life.

A year later, Amelie relapsed and underwent further surgeries and, this time, a 6 week stay in Birmingham for cranio-spinal radiotherapy.

Amelie didn’t get to start school like most 4 year olds. Instead she had to learn to walk and talk again. She lives with the side effects of her treatment every single day. She needs a frame to help her walk and often relies on the support of a wheelchair.

Because of the type of cancer Amelie has, she’s had regular scans since her initial diagnosis. In October last year, the scans came back abnormal. And further scans early this January confirmed the worst. Amelie has new tumour growth in her neck and spine. It’s no longer operable and she’s had more radiotherapy than is medically “safe”, treatment options are slim to none. She is no longer looking at a possible cure and is beginning palliative treatment in the hope of prolonging her quality of life.

The kind of news that takes your breath away in the worst possible way. She’s just 7 years old.

Over the years, we have raised thousands of pounds for brain tumour charities and that’s something I will do for the rest of my life. But now, well now I would like to raise money for Amelie, for her little brother and her family. To help ease the financial pressures of not being able to work, the expense of many hospital visits and appointments to attend. But mostly to be able to give Amelie all the experiences she deserves and create more treasured & happy memories. She really is the sweetest child and deserves the world.