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Tiny Hero's Legacy Fuels Rare Cancer Research
23 Apr
Summary
- A community is fundraising for DIPG research in memory of four-year-old Billy Thompson.
- Billy died in March 2024 from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare brain stem cancer.
- Billy's Battalion charity has raised over £33,000 through social media and events.
A community is rallying together for the third annual fundraiser in memory of four-year-old Billy Thompson, who passed away on March 31, 2024. Billy succumbed to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive form of brain stem cancer.
His mother, Ellie, has established Billy's Battalion, a charity dedicated to funding research for DIPG treatments. The initiative aims to prevent other children from facing the same devastating diagnosis. The charity has garnered significant support through social media, where Ellie shares her thoughts with Billy, and has raised over £33,000 via a JustGiving page.
Fundraising efforts have included collaborations with local sports clubs and events like "Billy's Bash." DIPG primarily affects children aged five to 10, with most diagnosed children surviving only 18 months due to the lack of a cure.
