Latest Charity News & Campaigning

We are pleased to announce that the phase I study of GD2 CAR-T cells for patients with H3K27M+ DMG is now open for recruitment. 

With your support and from Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, this innovative new trial will provide new hope to 12 patients in the UK.

A total award of just over £1.2m was announced to team of researchers at University College London (UCL) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) last September.

Lead Investigators Dr Karin Straathof and Prof Darren Hargrave will utilise a ‘GD2-CAR’ as previously used in the UK in clinical trials for the children’s cancer neuroblastoma. Patients will be treated by an expert multi-disciplinary team at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) but will be referred from throughout the UK to take part in the clinical trial. 

To read more about our work with the community and original funding for this project please click here 

 Adam Brooks has raised over £40,000 for DIPG/DMG research with a charity boxing event at York Hall Boxing Arena, held on Sun 3rd September.

The bout was organised in memory of Isla Winn, who Adam got to meet during her illness with DIPG and subsequently attended the funeral.

So touched by her plight we're so grateful to Adam who has used his huge social platform to promote the fight and the charity with so many celebrity endorsements. 

EVERY penny raised and donated will help us to continue to support research and encourage new clinical opportunities around the devastating unmet patient needs of children in the UK.

This September we begin another 'Childhood Cancer Awareness month' the perfect time to raise funds for DIPG research!

If you have any time to spare and can help us to collect donations, there are a number of ways to help.

• We're looking for people to distribute our A4 poster in supermarkets, on noticeboards, at work or in schools where they live.
• We have a decicated text code simply send GOLD4DIPG to 70085 to donate £5
• Our QR code can be scanned to make a quick, convenient and secure donation directly through our website.
• Show your support by wearing your GOLD RIBBON pin badge available here : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152364354636

• Display one of our counter top merchandise boxes with badges, pens and wristbands.
• Alternatively hold your own GOLD themed event at any time throughout the month.

Please get in touch if you'd like to help.

Whatever you can do to support is so appreciated and EVERY penny will be going towards the provision of viable new treatment opportunity for UK children with DIPG.

Share the facts and raise awareness - DIPG/DMG is a brutal and unfair brain cancer, with an impossibly short disease course in some cases between diagnosis and death.

We've shared many family stories over the years, all of the children affected are so full of joy and smiles, trying to be 'normal' in the face of such adversity.

They have little chance against such a completely decimating foe.The aftermath is totally devastating.

We are working now, collaboratively to make the biggest impacts possible around the 'unmet needs' of UK patients in the shortest possible terms. We know the current lack of treatment available is the most prevalent cause of frustration for families - this is not straight forward and there are substantial challenges to make anything seemingly 'promising available in the UK.

With your support we are helping to make this CHANGE! 

We're marking 10 years of Abbie's Army with the launch of a brand new challenge!

To show our commitment to tackling DIPG disease over the last decade we're aiming to clock up 24,901 miles - the distance in miles around the world. We just need as many of YOU our dedicated supporters to come with us.

Register on the 'Around the world for DIPG' challenge website and start logging your weekly activity. Anything and any mile counts! It will all add to the total we travel together for DIPG children. 

Got to the 'Support Us' tab or register here 'Around the world for DIPG'

'You don't need to wear a costume to be a Superhero' - but you can if you want to!

Starting this September can you 'Step Up for DIPG'  

We've teamed up with Run for Charity to bring YOU, our amazing supporters access to more than 250 running events!

We will be promoting some of the most sought after, often SOLD OUT events !...offering reduced registration fees to take part - all we ask is that a minimum sponsorship target is raised.

We are also including some unique venues... such as the Olympic Park and Alton Towers where your run registration fee even includes admission to the park itself!

If you need a local event, simply go to the Events calendar online and search by the distance and region that will show everything in your area.

With online training plans, diet tips and all the motivation needed, why not take on a truly meaningful challenge for DIPG children!

With huge thanks to Matthew Stinziani and all at Chadwick International School in Incheon, South Korea, who held their ‘NEVER GIVE UP’ Terry Fox/ Nina Rowe Run on Friday 20th May.

Former student Nina Rowe, was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and passed away in 2021 at the age of twelve. This edition of their run ‘was different and more significant’ than previous events, and became the run both to honour Nina and to raise funds for research into this devastating illness for which there is currently no cure.

Over 650 students ran, wearing purple and blue with Nina stickers and hearts, honouring and celebrating Nina, and making sure she lives on and in so many hearts and minds.

Its well known that brain tumours are the cause of the highest number of childhood cancer-related deaths in the UK.
Therapeutic drug-delivery directly to the brain stem location of DIPG and other mid-line tumours represents a major challenge, and is incredibly important in potential to be more effective with fewer toxic side effects than systemic therapy.

We are pleased to be partnering with the CBTDDC (Children's Brain Tumour Drug Delivery Consortium) at their up coming November workshop to offer up to £10,000 funding as part of their 'clinical trial readiness pump prime funding call' for a DIPG specific project.
A further three awards will also be on offer to selected bids.

25% of children with DIPG have a mutation in the ACVR1 gene with no targeted therapy

 AI selected everolimus alongside vandetanib in combination with enhanced BBB penetration already tested in a small clinical cohort.

Abbie's Army are proud to be long standing family charity partners of the Jones lab and The Institute of Cancer Research We are pleased to see this new progress released and have contributed among others to this research, with your support.

In a new news release on many media platforms, a new drug combination to treat DIPG, everolimus and vandetanib was identified using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.This combination specifically targets a mutation in the ACVR1 gene and the efficacy of vandetanib is enhanced as the combination increases penetration of the blood brain barrier.

This could benefit the 25% of children diagnosed with DIPG that have the ACVR1 gene mutation.Crucially the use of AI identiied this combination much more quickly than would normally be obvious in drug discovery.Clinical trials are needed for larger conclusive data but the combination has already been tested in models and a small number of children.

https://www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/scientists-use-ai-to-identify-new-drug-combination-for-children-with-incurable-brain-cancer

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community family fundraisers.I

nspired by beautiful Edie Jackson , and to give other families opportunities Edie's Kindness Project have donated a wonderful £10,000! 

These crucial funds will contribute towards the UK’s first ever clinical trial using CAR-T cell therapy for DIPG/DMG.

Edie was such a brave little girl, its truly touching that her campaign will now help other children in their brave fight.

Anticipated to open at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Q2/3 2022, this ground-breaking clinical trial will initially help 12 patients.

It will also form the basis for further development of the UK CAR-T cell therapy program for future children.

An update from UCL Dr Karin Straathof - Principal Investigator

" Our funded team at UCL/Great Ormond Street Hospital are working on opening a clinical trial of CAR-T cell treatment for children with DIPG in the UK.

The teams in the UK and US share their knowledge and experience so that together they can develop CAR-T cells into a treatment that makes DIPG tumours smaller, and eventually – as this is what we need to achieve - clear them up fully.

For the study in the UK, the research team are rapidly putting in the place the process to make CAR-T cells that can be used in a clinical trial and get approval from the medical regulator (MHRA).

The study will open as soon as safe and possible so children with DIPG in the UK can receive CAR-T cells."

We're so grateful for the support, and know those families to come will be to

Click the image to go to our webpage on the current Petition debate 300027 - 'Fund Reseach for Childhood Cancers with the Worst Survival Rates' and see how to get involved before the debate on Monday 7th December.

This December get in the festive spirit with your friends and loved ones and  help us to 'Kick It with a knit' 

This Christmas will be a little different for us all, but we can still reflect on all those suffering from DIPG in the most impossible times...and please try to help.

Perhaps the easiest 'virtual' fundraiser of them all... that we all take part in at some point in December is the traditional Christmas 'Jumper Day'
We would love your school or office to get involved this year for DIPG research, move us closer to finding effective treatment and a cure, by taking part in a simple Christmas Jumper day in aid of Abbie's Army!
Dedicate a day in December and have a part in saving the lives of children in the future, who are sadly diagnosed with this most fatal form of brain cancer, and 'Kick It with a Knit'
All proceeds will help us to fund our research projects and a new clinical trial for CAR-T cell therapy opening in the UK during 2021.
Your winter woollies truly can ‘work wonders’ …take part and we can send you a poster to print and display and then all you have to do is choose your day!

DONATE £2 (or more)online or use our dedicated text code. Text  'KICKIT' to 70085 to donate £2

Texts cost £2 plus one standard rate message

On July 2nd thanks to a fantastic amount of online support from Prof Karol Sikora and his supporters (among others), the DIPG community and various charities, the current Petition started by Fiona Govan gained the threshold number of 100,000 signatures required for 'consideration' by the Petitions Committee for debate with Government.

This is quite likely to be disrupted and subject to delay due to the back log of issues now requiring Government time and attention post Covid-19. MP's are also not currently sitting in Westminster Hall where debates would normally take place.

HOWEVER, this gives ample time to gather all the relevant information for a strong argument including all stakeholders, Public and Patient (PPI) involvement, the views of associated charities and key scientific expert research input  from disease specialties around what is needed.

Time too for us all to contact and lobby our own MP's for support and representation at any future debate and explain why this result is personally important to each and every one of us. The subject of 'brain tumour research' has of course been previously debated (2016) and references were included in the previous response (at 10,000 signatures).

This petition is not solely for DIPG or brain cancer research, neither is it centered on improving policy for all. This petition is to ensure that CHILDREN with the worst outcomes from the most 'difficult to treat' cancers, often with completely different biology to adult disease have the full attention, investigation and opportunities needed in regard to research processes, that may lead to better outcomes.

If you do contact your MP please do let us know and we can keep a log of all the relevant constituencies that have been notified. You can DOWNLOAD a template letter here: https://www.abbiesarmy.co.uk/Support-us/volunteer/uk-government-petition-2020/

These letters are to your representation regarding why it matters to YOU?
So please do have YOUR say...

Prior to receiving a date for the petition debate post recess due to be scheduled, we are calling on all UK families affected by DMG/DIPG to join together and sign an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP.

Past or present and new to the fight, every voice matters. 

Please message [email protected] or if you see a post, privately through social media channels if you are happy to be added as a family signatory to this letter. We only require one submission per child.

Please provide your details if possible by the end of August for submission.

Please include the following:

1. How you would like to be listed shown on the signatory page. 
2. The name of your child/grandchild.
3. Their age at time of their passing or whether they are currently still fighting.

It is most important that we show a groundswell of support from all over the country and that it is not just a small push from a few individuals. If you know of other families that are not active on social media please pass the information to them also.

As a group of families, (completely independent of charity) we can also copy this to the Petitions Committee and other relevant Ministers. 

We will also be using the letter after month end to send to various 'have your say' media news contacts and 'Letters to Editor' type online publications.

Anyone with any other ideas for spreading the word please reach out, either here or directly to the Petitioner, Fiona Govan.

Please click the link below if you would like to join a co-signatory page of other DIPG/DMG families, you can also read the FULL letter.

Thank you

https://www.abbiesarmy.co.uk/Support-us/volunteer/uk-government-petition-2020/open-letter-matt-hancock/

We hope to bring you details very soon of a brand new research project on which this most generous donation will be put to work.
We are so overwhelmed and very grateful to the Paul family, but only wish the circumstances for it could be so very different. Everything we do is to improve and inform the clinical treatment for children like beautiful Georgia affected by DIPG, now the legacy for so many families.

During Georgia's illness, friends, family, and total strangers were so incredibly generous as the family tried to raise funds to access drug trials overseas and experimental treatments in the UK.

In her memory we will do all we can to help others who face this horrific disease.

Grandmother launches Westminster petition calling for more research into DIPG

Fiona lost her grandson Logan to a DIPG brain tumour in 2017, since she has campaigned tirelessly with the community to drive change for every other family affected. 

Last month Fiona successfully lobbied the Scottish Government with another research petition on which Abbie's Army were invited to respond, calling for more research into brain tumours. There is now a NEW Westminster petition calling for funds for research into 'Childhood cancers with the worst survival rates' you can go straight there and support adding your signature through our header banner on the 'Home' page or by clicking here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300027

Please remember to check and confirm your address in your emails or your voice won't count. We need 100,000 signatures to even be considered for a debate. This is not just for DIPG but for sufferers of other childhood cancers also with a low survival, including 'high-risk' and relapsed disease which has a much poorer outlook once front line treatments are over.

The determination of Fiona in raising awareness of this terrible disease and fighting for more research into brain tumours, is an inspiration and a source of hope for so many other families in the community facing this most frightening diagnosis.

It is imperative to continue to drive for policy change at government level keeping the focus and pressure on so that vital and appropriate funds are invested into research.

Logan was just three years old when died from DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) in November 2017 we must change the outlook for future families who receive this terminal diagnosis.

Join us and get onboard for this September's 'Childhood Cancer Awareness Month'...it doesn't matter where you are , or what you do just as long as it's a little 'something'....Just 'Go GOLD' wherever you can to show your support.
Have an idea?..please get in touch and we will help you fundraise in any way we can.

We know things are hugely different and difficult this year but children with DIPG cannot be left even further behind...only the funding of vital RESEARCH that can be translated to meaningful clinical options will improve things for UK families.

One very easy way to show your support for those currently fighting bravely, those in the future and those gone way too soon, is simply by spending just a couple of pounds and wearing the GOLD ribbon pin badge available from our shop! 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152364354636 

We will also be sending one free badge with any other purchase made in September.

PLEASE help if you are able. #ResearchMatters

What an incredible evening at the JustGiving Awards 2019!!
We were honoured to be alongside, supporting our family fundraising group Islastones who WON their category and the 'Outstanding Commitment' award, our love and HUGE congratulations go to Katherine and Simon and all involved in 'Team Tansey' on such an achievement.

To put this into some perspective the 24 finalists were shortlisted from 50,000 nominations, and then put to the public vote! To be present at the event was staggering in itself!
The room was full of beautiful hearts, doing so many amazing things with such dedication for the causes they all care so deeply about. Many often when faced with real adversity or often total heart break.
And what was so striking for me?... of 9 awards given, 3 directly related to children who were diagnosed with DIPG!...one of those only very recently.
We MUST work as hard as we can for these children.

We're so grateful to be the beneficiary charity for Islastones, such an amazing platform to raise so much awareness for DIPG and childhood cancer, and an incredible legacy for their beautiful daughter Isla....We are beyond super proud of you all 

In July 2019 Steve Heningan will be swimming across the English Channel to raise funds and support for two charities that are special to his family.

This feat has certainly never been attempted for DIPG research previously and takes place in memory of Olivia Gregory from Wickford C of E School where she attended with Steve's daughter.

Sadly Olivia passed away from her illness in June 2018. You can watch a short video that shows why he is so motivated to help his chosen causes here.

Steve's progress can be followed by visiting the dedicated event Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Steve-Henigans-Channel-Swim and you can also DONATE directly through our web banner on the Home page of our site.

BIG release from the Institute of Cancer Research regarding the first EVER specifically designed and 'targeted' therapy to treat DIPG patients with mutations in the ACVR1 gene, occurring in 25% of DIPG cases.
Very happy to have provided comment on this piece in the London Evening Standard and to have invested considerably in the pre-clinical research to support and bring this development to DIPG patients in the near future. 
This is only made possible by the fabulous support we have received from our donors...please know and be proud that you have made a huge difference!

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/drug-discovery-gives-hope-to-victims-of-child-brain-tumour-a4137911.html 

The latest event from #Team Summer 'Summers Ball' was held in May at Eastleigh F.C. and was a huge success!... an amazing £20,000 was raised and donated which brings the #TeamSummer fundraising to DIPG research well in excess of £60,000!

The event was held in memeory of the beautiful Summer Page who sadly passed away on March 20th, 2018 just short of EIGHT months from her DIPG diagnosis.
Her parents Sam and Phil believe, as we do that funding specific and strategic research is the only way to find an effective treatment for DIPG in the future. We are so grateful to all who attended and supported so generously.

DIPG advocacy groups will be coming together to call for greater research funding and recognition of May 17th as DIPG'Awareness Day' 

2019 is the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings and Neil Armstrong's moonwalk who is perhaps the highest profile parent the DIPG community has. His daughter 'Muffie' passed away in 1962 - this is important because TODAY the standard treatment and terminal prognosis of DIPG remains exactly the same!

We will be standing with our International partners to recognise this day.
If you are in the UK you can help and add your voice.
Lets get these signatures up before May 17th please show you care and sign and SHARE the petition.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/239638

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2019 meeting has just finished.
Some DIPG awareness here from a US journalist who wanted to focus on work of the Spanish group being presented with the DNX2401 oncolytic virus for DIPG ...this is infused by cannula at the time of biopsy.
With YOUR support we are funding the 'biology' and profiling of these DIPG trial samples with Prof Chris Jones at The Institute of Cancer Research
In parallel she also reports on an 'open science' initiative for the development of a new drug from M4K Pharma - (Medicines 4 Kids) and collaborators, that is targeting ACVR1/ALK2 mutations in DIPG.
This great work speeding up development and availability again includes ICR and our funding is also contributing to this work.
In Prof Jones data ACVR1 co-segregates with other known mutations specifically and occurs in up to 30% of DIPG cases.
More on the further development of this agent from ICR will be released in due course but I was happy to add a 'parental' objective for this piece.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6878973/Scientists-inject-virus-kids-brains-desperate-attempt-shrink-100-fatal-tumors.html?fbclid=IwAR2f8TRDSZnT_ZHUTPD-QhcyV0tLwz8o8i-0c1tb2bsIt4dgrZdp9HMzJ0k 

Elisabet Fernandez Potente has now been selected by Professor Chris Jones to join the  BIOMEDE clinical trial team at the Institute of Cancer Research.

Abbie’s Army is working alongside the 'Islastones' group based in Hinckley who want to fund this new researcher who will process the trial samples and attempt to establish both 2D and 3D cell cultures in the laboratory. They will ensure the models undergo molecular profiling and carry out bespoke drug screening needed to inform the treating clinicians of children enrolled.

By supporting this research you will be playing a major part in efforts to develop tailored treatments for children with DIPG, in the fastest possible time, with maximum benefit and minimum side-effects. A targeted treatment is also a ‘kinder’ treatment.

Abbie’s Army will still be funding all the biology for all trials for each patient investigated. Funds are still needed to cover the position for two years but the urgency of the situation has necessitated this appointment right now.

To complete the two year post funding of £73,000 is required and you can help by donating here in memory of beautiful Isla Tansey.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/islastones 

This July, Steve Henigan will attempt to swim the channel for DIPG research! This is a 21 mile crossing from Dover to Cap Gris Nez on the French coast.
This takes place in honour of 5 year Olivia Gregory who sadly passed away from DIPG a year ago,Steve has a daughter who also attends Wickford Primary School and was hugely inspired when Olivia was well enough to go back into class after treatment.
There is a LOT to consider! hypothermia accounts for a large percentage of the unsuccessful attempts - swimming alongside a pilot boat and feeding strategies all come into play and need practice.
We'd really like to help Steve raise as much as he can. Please DONATE to this amazing effort here https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SteveHenigan1

We are now able to share the details of our recent grant in conjunction with the family group 'Cure4cam' awarded to Dr Helen Fillmore at the University of Portsmouth
This is a short-term grant of £43,158 and is jointly funded and covers various areas under the project heading: ‘‘IDENTIFICATION OF DIFFERENTIAL KEY SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN THE MICRO-ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPE OF THE DEVELOPING PONS AND DIPG”

This will be addressing some of the significant gaps in the understanding of the influence of tumour microenvironment and brainstem development continuing collaborations preparing potential target areas for further investigation.

( Funded jointly with Cure 4 Cam in memory of Cameron Truesdale) 

Abbie’s Army has been supporting Professor Chris Jones’ laboratory for some time at The Institute of Cancer Research funding the processing and analysis of DIPG samples from the BIOMEDE trial for UK children.
Professor Jones’ laboratory is now becoming the UK biology reference centre for more DIPG trials, in the recent collaboration announced with Cambridge to form the CRUK CBTCE – Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence there is broad agreement that a deep understanding of tumour biology to design disease‐specific therapies will be crucial.

With YOUR support we have now funded further patients on the UK BIOMEDE trial bringing the total to 34 children.
In ADDITION Abbie's Army are now offering further profiling support to additional trials with 6 children's samples from the Spanish DNX-2401 oncolytic virus trial for DIPG specifically now also covered. Oncolytic virus's are an active research area of interest for research. Selectively the hope is that it replicates within cancer cells (but not normal cells), causing tumour cell destruction and further spread of the virus to adjacent tumour cells. This process hopefully triggers an immune response directed against the tumour.

This month end of November 2018 , we are thrilled to announce that we reached this amazing figure for research fundraising ! To hit this incredible mark, is something that makes me so incredibly proud.

This year particularly we have grown! and sadly that means other families who have lost their beautiful children. I hope all parents can still feel their same presence in this world through supporting this vital work.
This is to all our fighters in the 'Army'...and to every person who ever took one step, or baked one cake ...or put one penny in a jar...in memory of all the 250+ more children who have passed away since Abbie's death in the UK.
We have done this all TOGETHER and that is testament to what a committed group of individuals can achieve!
Be very proud...
Heartfelt thanks, we can achieve nothing without your incredible support... here's to the next research million !

Abbie's Army contributed to a new release from Chris Jones and the glioma team at The Institute of Cancer Research
Published in Nature Medicine 'Functional diversity and cooperativity between subclonal populations of pediatric glioblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma cells' 

The team used donations of biopsy tissue and the brains of children who had died as a consequence of DIPG to look and learn more of the genetic make up of these tumours.
The study revealed that even cells that exist in relatively small numbers can exert a profound influence, by leading cells from the primary tumour into the rest of the brain to stimulate tumour growth and spread.
Researchers found cell type migration happens early in the evolution of the disease and as it migrates, a chemical messenger called CXCL2 is released and has the effect of calling other cells from the tumour to follow it.
Interfering in this communication and cooperation between cell populations within DIPG provides additional new targets for treatment, and could be key to containing spread of the disease.

Read the ICR post here in full https://www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/teamwork-between-cells-fuels-aggressive-childhood-brain-tumour

Abbie's Army have provided funding for the sequencing and 'avatar' modelling of another SEVEN DIPG biopsy samples at The Institute of Cancer Research
Since our last award in March these samples represent another seven children now enrolled on the BIOMEDE trial.
This brings the total now covered with YOUR support to 23 patients.
Replica individual DIPG tumours are re-created from the smallest tissue samples provided, it is truly amazing and incredibly difficult work
These can be drug screened and monitored for speed of DIPG invasion, drug uptake and growth which is adding to predictability studies of particular molecular sub-types.
In a percentage of cases other actionable target mutations can be identified to receive additional therapy at relapse.

Realising there are another seven families now experiencing the harsh reality of DIPG , should reinforce in all of us the need to support research acceleration and provide more options for these children, who have the greatest odds stacked against them and no cure.
Only by funding targeted research initiatives will we enable doctors to improve their understanding of how DIPG develops and progresses and lead the development of those effective treatment options that are so needed to benefit all DIPG children.

A recent match hosted by 'Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties' versus their West London Division at St Mary's stadium the home of Southampton FC was a huge success for two beneficiary charities, Abbie's Army and Naomi House & Jacksplace.
We were being supported in memory of beautiful Summer Page who sadly passed away on March 20th, 2018 just short of EIGHT months from her DIPG diagnosis.
Her parents believe, as we do that research is the only way to find an effective treatment for DIPG...and that in focusing on children, discoveries might also be made for adults and possibly other cancers.
The event in May has raised a staggering £26,305.05 for EACH charity... with the Southern Counties team victorious and a 6-2 scoreline.
Our sincere thanks to all those involved and those who donated towards this fantastic and most generous total with the raffle and auction, guest appearances by Matt Le Tissier and Francis Benali added to this great event!

Get involved with the latest challenge that is raising awareness and funding for DIPG research!

The #LemonFaceChallenge was started in the USA by 11-year-old Aubreigh Nicholas, who was diagnosed with DIPG in September. Her charity,Aubreigh's Army has already raised more than $40,000 at the time of this writing thanks to lots of help from the US sports world. Can we make this go viral and work in the UK?!!!

YOU can help us! It's so simple all you have to do is grab yourself a lemon , video your #LemonFace and upload to social media, nominate others to do the same and if you can, please make a small donation for DIPG research!

Remembering why DIPG is so sour!

A 9 month life expectancy
A virtually ZERO % survival 
NO surgery NO effective proven therapies.
Underfunded research and cause UNKNOWN
NO change in prognosis for decades.

EVERY PENNY will go towards research advancing the understanding of DIPG disease, investigating therapeutic targets and informing treatment for these young patients. 

Please TEXT LEMO40 (for the 40 UK kids diagnosed with DIPG each year) and your £ amount to 70070

You must be contracted to a UK mobile phone operator to use 'Just TextGiving'...if overseas you can still donate directly to our JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/abbies-army  Thank You.

A NEW paper was published today (15th April) in the Journal Nature Medicine from the Monje lab at Stanford University.

'Potent antitumour efficacy of anti-GD2 CAR-T cells in H3 K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas' Funding was contributed by numerous family led foundations including Abbie's Army.

The 'data' is incredible for this new promising immunotherapeutic 'CAR-T cell' approach for DIPG and other diffuse midline tumours. The disease even in the most robust model was eradicated, (do take a look at the luminescence imaging of the models included)
Abbie's Army with your support funded some of the GD2 specificity experiments required to enable publishing on this paper.
Clinical trial are planned for Spring 2019 safety will be so important given the precarious nature of the tumour site, monitoring and intensive care of neuroinflammation will be required, but a 'cautious multidisciplinary clinical approach' could prove 'transformative' for patients.
Incredible work, which we are so very proud to support from Michelle Monje-Deisseroth Crystal Mackall and the Stanford team.

Thanks to an anonymous and generous donor, children’s cancer charities including Abbie's Army have benefited from the sale of a valuable sculpture. Called ‘The Boy with a Dolphin’ by David Wynne it was auctioned recently at Christie’s for an amazing £80,000! The full size statue is situated on Chelsea’s Cheyne Walk opposite the approach to Albert Bridge

The money will be split between our charity and other great causes Solving Kids Cancer, Chelsea’s Angels and Alice’s Escapes.

We are hugely grateful for this immensely kind donation which will help us support the funding of vital DIPG research.

A hugely informative and as always inspiring visit on March 14th with Prof Chris Jones and the glioma team at The Institute of Cancer Research
With YOUR support Abbie's Army have now funded the processing, sequencing and modelling of ALL 16 UK patients currently enrolled on the BIOMEDE trial for DIPG.

The Trustees of Abbie's Army have announced their latest project, commencing immediately and running for two years an award of $270,000 has been agreed with Stanford University, California, USA.

Entitled 'Towards a multi-pronged approach for DIPG therapy: targeting BDNF-TrkB signalling in the DIPG microenvironment' this also includes some specificity experiments with CAR T cell therapy in DIPG.

Please see our 'Research Funded To Date' section for more details

Our recent feature appealing for DIPG awareness reached thousands of people...
A HUGE thank you to Sophie Jane Evans, Chief Mirror Reporter who was extremely passionate in wanting to help us increase much-needed public support and research funding as soon as possible.
Our heartfelt thanks also to the families involved here who allowed us to show their children and united with us to get these children the attention they deserve...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cancer-no-child-survives-parents-10907167?ICID=FB_mirror_main 

The total funds raised by Co-op Members for Abbie's Army  is £3349.40!

We want to say a big THANK YOU to Co-op Members.

To everyone who donated their 1% membership during our selection you have made a massive difference this will go towards our funding of individual patient models of DIPG disease for children enroled on the BIOMEDE trial in the UK. We are so grateful for the support.

Abbie's Army are supporting and pushing with the UK DIPG community a new petition on Government for increased funding into DIPG research. YOU can help by simply adding your signature to this Petition - 100,000 signatures are needed to secure a Parliamentary debate.

If you are affected you can help also by lobbying your own MP and gaining their interest. You can DOWNLOAD our template letter here. Just add how you are affected or why you are writing so that as many DIPG stories as possible are represented, it also requests their representation of 'you', their constituent, should the debate reach Parliament,

 petition_lobby_mp_letter_inc_icr_statement.doc

If you have not yet signed the petition you can CLICK on the header banner on our 'Home' page or add your signature on this link :

 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200017 

Every September in the UK is now  a 'Childhood Cancer Awareness Month' an opportunity to put advocacy for increased research into treating childhood cancer under the spotlight. We have to highlight the impact of cancer and DIPG specifically on children and their families to gain the attention they deserve.

You can help by selling our 'Gold Ribbon Awareness' badges - these are available individually for just £1.50 plus postage from our shop via Ebay. Alternatively if you can take one of our counter top boxes for your workplace, shop, club or school please do get in touch and we will send one out to you.

Wear a badge this September and honour all those currently fighting, those gone too soon and those little fighters of the future who will be facing big battles.  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152364354636?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A team of 15 from 'Finlay's Fighters' completed their swim challenge across Sheephaven Bay, Donegal on Saturday 5th August. Finlay Marriott was a very brave boy who lost his year long battle with DIPG in January 2014.

The family have been such wonderful supporters of our charity and DIPG research with numerous 'challenge' type events, this latest one has raised over £17,000 so far! Incredible...well done and thank you to all at Finlay's Fighters especially Finlay's parents Judith and Chris.

We're absolutely thrilled to announce that we have our VERY FIRST 'Abbie's Army Ambassador' in the shape of Mr Mark Saggers!
A radio presenter with an extensive broadcasting career he is truly one of the most recognised and respected voices in the world of sport. 
Mark can be found today on talkSPORT and is also in demand as a conference host across the UK, Europe and in the USA.
We were very grateful for his excellent hosting of our inaugural 'Discovery Ball' event last October, where more than £30,000 was raised towards our DIPG research.
Such a wonderful champion of our charity and DIPG children, we are so very honoured to have his support.

On Friday 30th June 100 golfers took to the course at Hunley Hotel & Golf Club, Saltburn-by-the-Sea and raised a FANTASTIC £4110 for our DIPG research projects!

Organised by Anthony Armstrong, teams went against each other in really poor conditions and persevered to support the cause.

We are so grateful to those who provided fantastic prizes for the  raffle and auction and those who sponsored tee box signage on the course.

Well done to all who took part in the day and made it such a success!

Coop - Local Community Fund - June 2017

Are you a Coop Member?

Abbie's Army has been selected as a local cause for support but you can be anywhere in the UK to nominate us!

This is running for SIX months so will take us right up to Christmas, so there is plenty of time to get involved.

It costs just £1 to join and you will instantly begin to save 5% in your membership account to redeem against Co-op products. By nominating Abbie's Army, 1% of you spend will be donated for us to put towards vital DIPG rseearch.

This is the direct link you need to use to nominate us : https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/8888 

Great to catch up with those involved with fundraising at Homewood School & Sixth Form Centre in Tenterden.

With huge thanks to Karen Adams, Maxine Smith and the Head Mrs Lees and just some of the Enterprise students we collected a fabulous cheque for £2329.44!

This was raised with a concert evening, cake sale and non-uniform day, the most ever raised for one of their supported charities too!
We are so very grateful for your support for DIPG research...'Thank You' to all at Homewood who kindly took part and donated.

If you are local to Ashford and shop in Waitrose, please consider putting your green 'Community Matters' token in the Abbie's Army box. 
We're one of their chosen charities this month!

Daughter's tragedy that may lead to cure for a childhood killer

A feature from September 'Childhood Cancer Awareness Month' 2015, in the Telegraph regarding our fundraising for DIPG

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/children/11894066/Daughters-tragedy-that-may-lead-to-cure-for-a-childhood-killer.html 

Abbie's Army

Abbie Mifsud was only six years old when she died of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) — an inoperable and incurable cancer in her brainstem. DIPG is an extremely aggressive cancer which currently has no effective treatment options. She passed away just five months after her diagnosis.

http://www.icr.ac.uk/support-us/meet-our-supporters/donor-stories/abbie's-army-helps-support-research-into-dipg