(Image: No credit) Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice A father and son from Lisburn in Northern
Ireland are embarking on a 550-mile cycle starting in the Scottish Borders, in memory of their beloved niece and cousin who died from brain
cancer in 2021. On Thursday, Don Thompson, a partner in Belfast-based commercial law firm, McKees, his son Josh, 17, and family friend Andy Gallagher set off from Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway to Snargate in Kent. They planned to cycle to the house where Don grew up with his sister Bridget, brother Peter and sister Rachel. They are taking on the challenge to raise funds for brain tumour research charity, Abbie's Army, in memory of little Evie Poolman. Read More Related Articles Real Housewives star Lauri Peterson's son Josh Waring dies aged 35 Read More Related Articles Josie Gibson uploads rare snap of son Reggie as they enjoy luxurious trip abroad Speaking about his niece Evie, who died from brain cancer in 2021, Don said: "When Evie first started experiencing migraines, doctors told her parents that they shouldn't be concerned. However further tests were carried out when she started seeing double shortly before
Christmas in 2020 which revealed a tumour. "My sister Bridget and her husband Charles subsequently received the devastating diagnosis that Evie, who was just nine years old, had diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a highly aggressive and rare form of brain cancer that forms in a child's brainstem and for which there is currently no cure. "Evie subsequently endured 30 rounds of radiation and four separate brain surgeries before her brave battle ended in June 2021 at the age of nine, just six months after her initial diagnosis," reports Belfast Live . Evie and mum Bridget (Image: No credit) "Sadly, and unbelievably, the treatment plan Evie underwent for the condition has not changed in 60 years, and about 25 per cent of all the childhood deaths from cancer every year relate to this cancer. The courage shown by Evie and the incredible way that Bridget, Charles and her sisters Grace and Molly have dealt with this tragedy is nothing short of miraculous." Evie's family are now "doing whatever we can" to support the Abbie's Army charity, in their mission in helping to raise awareness about the condition in the hope they can raise money to help fund further research, so that a treatment and cure can be found for the devastating disease. Evie Poolman (Image: No credit) "My son Josh and I, together with our good friend Andy Gallagher, will be embarking on a sponsored cycle during the Easter holidays, from near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway to Snargate, Kent to the house in which Bridget and I grew up with our family," Don added. "We are encouraging people to sponsor us on this 550 mile journey to help raise vital funds for the charity Abbie's Army and in memory of our little Evie." Top news stories today Cop stole dead dad's iPad and phone Woman who kept tot in cage found dead Mum died after ex set her on
fire Passerby pulls woman from car wreckage Don, Josh and Andy had raised double of what they set off to achieve - which was £10,000. While they were still on their gruelling cycle challenge, their Just Giving Page hit that £20,000 mark. To make a contribution, please follow this link . Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
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