ABBIE'S ARMY MAD: ‘MUMS AGAINST DIPG’ LAKES CHALLENGE
There is a brain tumour so deadly that surgery is impossible and all chemotherapies have been proven ineffective. The median survival is just 912 months from diagnosis. The survival rate is 0% and there have been no advancements in its treatment for over 30 years. This fatal brain cancer is DIPG or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, and it affects children. On 25th May this year, an all-female Abbie's Army team proudly completed their MAD: ‘Mums against DIPG’ Lakes Challenge. The group returned victorious after a gruelling 21 hours, having raised more than £85,000 for vital research into DIPG. Abbie's Army, based in Ashford, was formed after the loss of just one of the 40 precious children in the UK who are affected by DIPG every year. Abbie was just six years old when she passed away, only five months after her diagnosis. The charity is now totally committed to raising funds and awareness for research into
this horrific brain cancer. No family should have to hear that there is no cure, and yet every nine days a UK family receives this DIPG diagnosis for their child. The aptly named MAD Challenge bought together 20 women, including three mums who have all lost their little girls to this same rare fatal brain tumour. The mums became aware of each other after attending the Royal Marsden Hospital for palliative radiotherapy with their daughters. The three girls, Abbie aged 6, Elsie aged 6 and Grace aged 5, were featured together in a fundraising video for the campaign that was viewed 15,000 times on YouTube. The 71km challenge consisted of a 33km canoe stint, covering the entire length of Lake Windermere, a 21km cycle ride, and a 17km climb, with a nine-hour ascent and descent of Scafell. The team gave blood, sweat and tears. DIPG is completely inoperable due to its location in the brain stem; it remains the worst
of all childhood brain tumours and is universally fatal. Currently there is a huge drive around the world from families who have been affected by the disease. All DIPG research is privately funded by parent-led organisations that have usually lost a child. This year Abbie's Army has now exceeded a milestone £100,000 fundraising amount but more funds are still urgently needed for children who desperately need help. The charity is now establishing a membership with the DIPG Collaborative, an international coalition combating DIPG and looking to invest their funds with the researcher or institution closest to making a breakthrough with this cruel cancer.
www.abbiesarmy.co.uk
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