Today’s Latest News is dedicated to the memory of Lily Wythe and all those who have been lost to diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), the most cruel of childhood cancer diagnoses.
Lily was just 14. Her whole life ahead of her.
We are thinking of her family and friends and of the extraordinary response by her local community, as well as people from around the world, in coming together to support them. And we are thinking of all of those who have lost a loved one to a brain tumour and those who are going through a diagnosis and treatment now.
We were proud to work alongside Lily’s family and also with Lillie Cotgrove, her schoolfriend who, together with help from her family, launched the One Pound Warriors Facebook page which achieved the seemingly impossible. By raising the huge sum needed for Lily to take part in a clinical trial in Seattle, the Warriors community succeeded in giving hope when all appeared lost.
Lily’s tragic story spurs us on to work ever more resolutely to raise funds for research and to campaign for governments and the larger cancer charities to invest more and work with us to make a difference.
Rest in peace Lily