Bethany was a beautiful, fun loving, sporty girl who was diagnosed totally out of the blue with a brain tumour! Just weeks before her diagnoses she was representing her school, Presdales, in cross country.
She battled very bravely for almost a year. In that time she underwent 6 operations, 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy and 6 courses of chemotherapy. She never complained throughout her treatment and just wanted to get back to normal and back to school so she could be with her friends.
Our world collapsed when she lost her battle in November ‘08 aged just 12 years old.
Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to brain tumour research and patient information and support. We decided to set up an umbrella group “Friends of SDBTT – Bethany Walker Group” so that we could raise money in Bethany’s memory.
We kicked off our fundraising back in 2009 with a children’s sponsored walk which started and finished at Megan’s (Bethany’s sister) old primary school, Wheatcroft. From that alone we raised over £7500.
Bethany’s form teacher, Laura Seaman and her sister, Amy ran a half marathon at the end of 2009 and together with Presdales School raised an amazing £4100. Not content with that they decided to run the London Marathon in 2011 raising a further £6100. Also running for Bethany in the 2011 London Marathon was our friend and neighbour, Paula Smith who raised a fantastic £2600. Well done to all three of them.
Other people have competed in various 5k and 10k runs also obtaining a fantastic amount of sponsorship.
We have had coffee mornings, tea parties, Golf days, raffles……..and lots more, all raising considerable amounts of money. Friend and neighbour, Sue Walkom even jumped out of a plane and raised well over £1500!
To date we have raised almost £30,000 – Bethany would have been so chuffed that people were doing this in her memory. It means a great deal to us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
If you would like to help us in any way to raise money for this magnificent cause please do not hesitate to contact us
Louise, Darren & Megan Walker
(Bethany’s Parents and little sister)
