Two mums from Didcot who lost their two-year-old son less than a year after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour are supporting research into a cure for the disease.
Hayley and Lauren Bayliss-Watts' son, Albie, was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive brain tumour after experiencing a seizure and vomiting in the morning.
Despite emergency surgery and intensive chemotherapy, he reached the end of all treatment options and died on November 28, 2021.
His parents are now set to lead a Walk of Hope at the end of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
It will raise money for a Albie and Beyond - a fundraising group for Brain Tumour Research set up in memory of Albie.
The group is helping to combat the disease, which affects around 420 children in the UK each year.
Lauren said: "We cannot believe that our beautiful, funny, courageous baby has gone and coming to terms with our loss is so very hard.
"During his short life, Albie touched so many people’s hearts and filled our world with nothing but pure joy.
"Albie fought cancer with style and spirit and our memories will forever remind us of how in awe we were of our little fighter, right until the very end.
"Nothing can take this pain away, but knowing how loved our boy was only drives us to be strong for him."
Frustrated with the "lack of investment into brain tumours", the mums will lead the walk on September 28.
The five-and-a-half-mile walk, which is part of the national Walk of Hope initiative, will start at 1pm from The Royal Oak pub in Didcot, go to The George in Upton, and return to The Royal Oak.
The entry fee, which includes a drink and a burger at the finish, is £20 for adults and £10 for children.
The money can be paid in cash on the day or via a donation to the Albie and Beyond fundraising page.
Hayley said: "It’s so important for us to raise awareness and keep Albie’s name alive, while creating his legacy.
"He was so loved and such a popular little boy. We never want Albie to be forgotten."
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, but only one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease since records began in 2002.
The Walk of Hope is an annual event organised by Brain Tumour Research to raise money for research and to support patients and their families.
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