Mum’s marathon effort for Katie
Tumour-hit daughter inspires charity run
A SCOTS mum whose daughter is suffering from an inoperable brain tumour will run the London Marathon to raise awareness and cash for the terrible condition.
Katie Milliken was just three when she was diagnosed with the disease.
She underwent emergency surgery but the tumour is buried deep in her brain, making it impossible to operate.
Now 10, Katie, from Clarkston, near Glasgow, has been through 18 months of chemotherapy and three months of specialist radiotherapy in America but that proved unsuccessful.
She has also spent extended periods of time in a wheelchair, has undergone steroid treatment and had countless operations. She is now receiving more chemotherapy.
Her mother Louise said: “Throughout it all, Katie has been amazing but the tumour has caused irreversible changes. Her balance and co-ordination are poor, she can no longer run and has had to learn to write with her left hand.
“When she should have been enjoying the typical life of a child, she has been attending hospital for chemo, sickness, infections, blood transfusions, scans, operations and other tests.
“Despite this, she still manages to attend school almost full-time and her positive outlook and chatty nature rubs off on all who get to know her.”
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
But just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease, according to Brain Tumour Research.
Having raised £4000 already, Louise wants to beat her £5000 target.
She said: “Life is so precious and, for us, fragile. We try not to look too far ahead and cling on to the fact that, with research, every day presents the possibility of better treatment options for Katie in the future.” To donate, visit Louise Milliken’s Just Giving page: www.justgiving. com/fundraising/ louise-milliken1