As some of you may have noticed, a lot of the people I have come into contact with lately have been parents mourning the loss of a child. Most of these children were taken by brain tumours. Ellie is just one of them.
Ellie was eleven when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in March 2007. It was a grade four Glioblastoma which was very aggressive and very difficult to treat. She was given just six months to live. Somehow, Ellie managed to survive three years and one day before passing away on February 14th 2010. She was fourteen years old.
Ellie was a kind little girl and she managed to raise around £25,000 for various children's charities whilst battling the brain tumour. Her parents decided to carry on her brilliant work after her death and keep her legacy alive. Ellie's Fund Brain Tumour Trust was founded in March 2010, became a registered charity in September 2010, before launching in February 2011.
The trust raises money to go towards a brain tumour research laboratory in Leeds whilst also supporting children going through the horrific treatment that goes along with having a brain tumour.
Ellie's mum, Heather, tells me: "I hate that the need is there, but it feels good to be able to help other children who find themselves in the same position as Ellie was. Until this happened to "us", I was completely unaware of anything to do with brain tumours. The statistics, though, are horrifying, and that is why I am trying to make a difference"
Heather set up the charity with her husband Jason and their other trustees Tina and Shaun, as well as having support and help from some family members and several of Ellie's friends.
Ellie's fund is currently campaigning for improved awareness and funding for brain tumours in the UK. They have a petition which they are hoping to give to the Department of Health when they have gained enough signatures. Brain tumour research is currently about twelves years behind research into other cancer types, a rather worrying fact when you consider that brain tumours are the number one cancer killer for children. 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year in the UK and more needs to be done to help them survive. Currently, only 14% of those diagnosed actually survive more than five years after diagnosis.
March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month and Ellie's trust have numerous fundraising events planned: on March 30th, Ellie's Trust will be joining up with numerous other brain tumour charities to encourage lots of businesses, organisations and education centres to make a donation and take part in "Wear a Hat Day" to raise awareness of brain tumours and bring in funds that are vital for research.
For more information about Ellie's trust and to find out how to support this fantastic family and their charity, please check out their website www.elliesfund.com or join the facebook page (Ellie's Fund - Brain Tumour Trust). They also have a twitter account: @elliesfundinfo
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