I, Craig Jackson, dad to 6-year-old Edie Jackson, will be running a marathon to raise money for my daughter who is currently battling an aggressive brain tumour.

Edie's Fight
My daughter is the most inspirational person I know. She loves her mummy Lois, looks up to her older brother Charlie and is a precious and much-loved granddaughter, cousin and friend to so many. She is a gentle soul who is so smiley and loves performing, including singing and dancing.

Unfortunately, on the 27th November 2019 our life changed forever as we received the devastating news that Edie has an incurable brain tumour called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). DIPG is the deadliest form of childhood cancer with average survival from diagnosis just 9 months with less than 1% of those diagnosed living longer than 5 years. It effects as few as 20 to 30 children every year in the UK meaning awareness and funding are worryingly and frustrating low. 

The harsh reality of this lack of awareness and funding in the UK is that treatment beyond radiotherapy, which Edie has already completed is in the form of clinical trials. There are currently no clinical trials active in the UK and we are having to research trials abroad that will run into many hundreds of thousands of pounds.

River Run
The 26.2 mile (42km) run is planned for Saturday, 26 September and will begin at Bishops Stortford, following the River Stort and River Lea back to Waltham Abbey where we live. 

I am aiming to raise as much money as possible to get my daughter the treatment she needs. By donating, no matter how big or small, you will help give my daughter a fighting chance.