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Why donate to Charlotte’s BAG rather than a big charity? It’s a fair question, and one I’m often asked. Charlotte’s BAG was created in memory of my beautiful daughter, Charlotte, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged just 16 and sadly died from a grade 4 glioblastoma aged 19. Behind this charity is a mum who knows first hand the devastation a brain tumour diagnosis brings to a family. I know what it means to desperately want more time, better treatments and a future for your child. That is why I continue to fight for the research that is so desperately needed. We may be a small, self-funding charity, but we have a very clear purpose. 100% of donations  go directly to brain tumour research in Charlotte’s Lab at King’s College Hospital, London. We don't have a large organisation behind us it's just Miles, my son & I. We rely on the generosity of individuals, families and businesses who believe in what we are trying to achieve. When you support Charlotte’s BAG, you are helping fund research while keeping Charlotte’s name and story alive. Every donation contributes to our mission of improving the future for people affected by brain tumours. This isn't about saying that big charities don't do important work. They do. But smaller charities can offer a very direct connection between the people who donate, the cause they care about and the work they want to support. For me, this is personal. Charlotte was my daughter. I cannot change what happened to her, but I can continue to do everything I can to help other families facing the same devastating diagnosis. We might be small, but our ambition is not. To date we have raised £413,683k If you are thinking about donating to a brain tumour charity, please consider Charlotte’s BAG. Your support means more research, more hope and a lasting legacy for a beautiful girl who deserved so much more time. Thank you for helping me keep Charlotte’s legacy alive. If you’re unable to donate to Charlotte’s BAG, please consider reposting this post. With thanks Alex charlottesbag.org/ kch.nhs.uk/news/kings-neuros…

The Journal of a Mother Whose Daughter Had a Brain Tumour Diagnosis to Death: 951 days Age 19 18.2.97 - 24.2016 13 years ago 20th October 2013 This morning, I made tea, as I did every morning. Charlotte loved this time of day  having her first cup of tea, checking her computer, and sitting with Nala, her cat, curled up on her lap. It was one of those familiar little routines that made up our everyday life. Charlotte had her first cup of tea when she suddenly said she felt a lump in her throat when she swallowed. My immediate reaction was fear. Has the cancer spread? It was frightening how quickly your mind went to the worst possible place. We knew that her tumour was confined to the area around her brain and spine, within the spinal fluid, so we knew it couldn't simply spread elsewhere in the way we feared. But when your child has an aggressive brain tumour, every new symptom brings another wave of worry. What we didn't know at the time was that the radiotherapy, combined with the position of Charlotte's spinal tumours, meant that her oesophagus was also being badly burnt. We hadn't realised how much this would affect her. Something as simple as swallowing  something most of us never give a second thought to was becoming another problem for Charlotte to face. We would later discover just how significant this would be, with the damage having a massive impact on her ability to eat over the coming months. It's hard to explain how cancer changes everyday life. One minute, you're making tea and watching your daughter check her computer with her cat on her lap. Next, you're worrying about another symptom and what it might mean. These are the moments people don't always see when they think about a brain tumour. It's not just the diagnosis, the hospital appointments or the treatment. It's the way something as ordinary as a cup of tea can suddenly become a source of fear. I remember these moments because they were part of Charlotte's journey, and I want people to understand what she went through. This is why I continue to share her story. Behind every diagnosis is a real person, a family, and a life changed in ways nobody could have imagined. Through Charlotte's BAG, I hope we can help fund research that gives future families more answers, better treatments and more hope. Please consider donating to Charlotte's BAG to help fund vital brain tumour research. Research carried out in Charlotte's Lab at King's College London covers all types of brain tumours, helping the wider brain tumour community. We are a small, entirely self-funded charity, which means 100% of your donation goes directly to research. No salaries. No overheads. No advertising. No merchandise. With thanks charlottesbag.org/