Hi everyone, it’s Ella & Olivia here. We are two close friends of Sophie Clarke and we will be doing a 10 hour hike throughout the night in September to fundraise money for Sophie, going through a terminal diagnosis. Please read her story below.

In early June 2024, at the age of just 24, Sophie’s life changed forever. After suffering a seizure, that left her with sudden numbness in her hands and face, blurred vision, and a temporary loss of speech, she was rushed to the hospital for precautionary scans. What doctors initially suspected might be a stroke turned out to be an extremely serious diagnosis. On the 7th of June, Sophie was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. She then underwent an urgent brain biopsy, after which she was informed it was classified as a grade 2 tumour.

Sophie had known something wasn’t right for several years through experiencing intense migraines. For months leading up to her diagnosis, the migraines became even more intense and so severe they often left her unable to work or even leave the house. She visited the doctor multiple times, explaining how much the pain was affecting her day-to-day life. Each time, she was told it was nothing to worry about — that it could be something personal or stress-related. In hindsight, those headaches were warning signs. While this is not a criticism of any individual healthcare professional, Sophie and her family now hope her story can raise awareness of just how serious unexpected migraines can be, especially in young people. Earlier intervention could have changed everything.

Before her diagnosis, Sophie was working as a private nanny — a role she adored, caring for young children with the warmth, energy and compassion she’s always been known for. But the tumour forced her to stop working immediately, and life since then has become a relentless cycle of hospital appointments, clinical trials, and managing the constant side effects of treatment. Her tumour is aggressive, and although treatment options are limited, Sophie was accepted into a clinical trial, undergoing a fifth round of chemotherapy — unfortunately Sophie was unable to undergo the planned sixth round of chemo due to weight loss which she has struggled with since starting the treatment.

Physically, the treatment is so exhausting and her memory is fading. Emotionally, she is so strong through the uncertainty — supported by family, friends, and a quiet resilience that carries her through. Doctors have said she may live for a further 3- 8 years , but we all hold on to the hope that she will very much exceed this. Sophie has dreams to one day go travelling, to see the world she once had all the time in the world to explore. We also hope that, with rapid developments in science and AI, treatments will evolve and that one day this devastating diagnosis might not be so final.

Right now though, Sophie and her family are facing very real financial hardship. Her father is a builder and site manager and her mother, working for the NHS at Epsom General Hospital — both have had to take unpaid time off work to care for Sophie and attend appointments. The cost of living crisis, rising bills, and lost income have taken a serious toll.

Sophie has never once wanted to ask for help and has not once complained. She’s always been proud, independent, and selfless. However, as friends, we have insisted that we set up this fundraiser as a way to raise awareness and give others in the community an opportunity to show their support and know Sophie’s story. Sophie is the most amazing person & friend. We would love nothing more than to give Sophie the opportunity to fulfil her dreams, create more amazing memories and help her family during this time.

In order to fundraise the money, in September, we will be doing a 10 hour night trek across 4 challenging peaks from nightfall to dawn. We will be hiking the ‘pen y fan, crbyn, corn du, fan y big’ circular route and we will be starting around 1am. This will be a big challenge for us and we hope to raise as much money as we can in the next few months!

Any money raised will go directly towards Sophie & her family, easing the pressure just enough so they can focus on what matters most: time together making the most amazing memories.

Thank you for reading. If you’re in a position to donate or share this page, your support would mean everything to us!