Blog: Supporter stories from the Sahara

4 min read

Last month, 16 supporters braved the sun and sand of the Moroccan desert to raise more than £80,000 to help find a cure in our first ever international event. Here, we look at their achievements and celebrate the incredible impact their efforts will have, funding research and fuelling hope for brain tumour patients across the UK.

Charlotte Campbell (below right), our Community Fundraiser for South Central, took on the trek in memory of her aunt. Having lost Gina to a metastatic brain tumour in 2024, Charlotte joined the Charity with a dedication to find a cure – a dedication that led her to the North African desert.

She said: “I think we were all surprised by how quickly we got used to being in the desert with 15 relative strangers. Some of us knew each other but the majority did not, and we all bonded so quickly. Everyone was willing to step in and help out with whatever. It was such a privilege to be part of.”


Alongside Charlotte was Denise Sefton (above left), a Trustee of Brain Tumour Research, who took part in Trek Sahara as a result of losing her nephew, Theo Howden, to a brain tumour in 2017. Theo was just four at the time. Denise’s stepsister Lynne was also diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012, and her close friend Amy Van Wyk is currently battling 25 metastatic brain tumours. Denise knows all too well the pain of a loved one’s diagnosis, and her commitment to finding a cure is an inspiration to us all.

Hayley and Amy Firth, a mother and daughter duo, faced the epic fundraising event together. The pair took part in memory of ‘Gorgeous’ George Fox, a 13-year-old who passed away from a glioblastoma brain tumour in April 2022. Hayley, George’s aunt, previously took part in the Luton Walk of Hope 2023 and Amy, George’s cousin, attended in 2022.

Alongside them was Joanne Ainslie, a mother-of-two who lost the love of her life Craig to an oligodendroglioma in 2003. Having raised two young children alone, with very little memory of their dad, Jo continues to fight for the change that has not reached brain tumour patients since Craig was diagnosed over 20 years ago. It is people like Joanne, walking roughly 20km a day, who enable us to fund research and one day make sure that no other children grow up without a parent.


Many in our community know that the young can be more directly affected by this disease; brain tumours continue to kill more children than any other cancer. This is the tragic story for Jasmine Freeman, who died at the age of eight from a diffuse midline glioma. Family friend Hariette Small took on the challenge in her memory, facing the scorching sands of the desert for the ‘Warrior Princess’ whose short life was marked by gruelling brain cancer treatments.

Victoria Salm, who fought alongside her young son Harry as he was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma at the age of eight, took on the challenge too. After 13 hours of surgery and months of chemotherapy, Harry remains determined and full of spirit – something mirrored by his mother as she raised funds for a cure in the heat of the Moroccan Sahara.

Charlotte recalls: “The terrain was probably the hardest part, it was very undulating and sometimes the dunes were so soft, it was really difficult to walk just a few meters. It also got incredibly hot around midday (around 35°C), so we were all grateful for our lunch and a little rest. The lack of facilities were also a bit of a struggle – no running water, no toilets and no beds!”


There were also several adventurers themselves fighting brain tumours, taking on the trek and succeeding against the odds.

Hannah King-Page was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in late 2020. Despite the often grim prognosis of 12-18 months, Hannah has been living a full life over the last 5 years. She set up the Fundraising Group Hannah’s Kingdom, and, along with her cousin Sarah Martin, went on to face the challenge of the Sahara – where she would go without showers and toilets for six days.

Nicola Shaw, a meningioma patient, also took on the challenge. A travel lover, she had just returned from a dream trip to Antarctica when facial pains revealed the brain tumour near her left optic nerve. Despite undergoing surgery and Gamma Knife therapy, Nicola channelled her strength into raising awareness and funds for research into brain tumours by facing the desert heat.


Marcus Elwell, a father-of-three, was diagnosed with a rare haemangioblastoma in 2021. Having turned to meditation and mindfulness since the tumour was removed, he also sought out an adrenaline challenge that would keep the conversation around brain tumours alive.

“Those who chose to really loved sleeping out under the stars. You ran the risk of sliding down a sand dune or being joined by various bugs, but it was so lovely to just look up and see the Milky Way. Many of us saw multiple shooting stars. Waking up to the early dawn light was magical, it made you feel really in-tune with the desert,” said Charlotte.

Father and son team Justin and Finlay Treharne also headed out to the Sahara in memory of Ethan, the teenager who died of a glioblastoma at the age of 17. Almost four years on from his passing, Ethan’s family continue to fight for a cure however they can. Justin, Ethan’s father, and Finlay, his brother, spent six days in the desert as part of A New Hope for Ethan’s fundraising efforts – which will continue in June with the adrenaline-fuelled Jump For Hope.

The pain of a brain tumour diagnosis can bring families together – something Claire Cordiner and her sister Louise Cooper know all too well. The pair lost their mother Margaret, youngest sister Angie and Angie’s only son Max all died from glioblastoma brain tumours. Claire’s cousin David also died from an astrocytoma. The sisters took their heartbreak, as well as their strength, with them as the pair ventured across the sand in search of a cure for the disease that has taken so many of their loved ones.


“I think the most memorable thing was just being with everyone, sharing stories, some heartbreaking and heavy and others silly and ridiculous. I’ll never forget my time with everyone,” said Charlotte. “You will never regret taking on a challenge like this. It’s such a cathartic thing to do, so healing in all aspects.”

We would like to congratulate and thank these courageous and selfless adventurers for their dedication to our cause. They have helped raise an incredible total of £80,000 for research into brain tumours. As the first international fundraiser held by Brain Tumour Research, Trek Sahara has expanded the horizons of what we can achieve when we work together.

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