Meet Charlotte
At just four years old, Charlotte was diagnosed with a brain tumour and transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for surgery. Now eight, she’s back at home with her family and has returned to school.
Charlotte’s symptoms were initially sporadic but gradually worsened. Her voice began to change, and she started dragging her leg. It was then that she was referred to a local hospital, where a CT scan confirmed she had a tumour.
Charlotte was blue-lighted to GOSH, where she had surgery to remove the tumour. The operation was successful, but a routine MRI later showed that the tumour had returned. Although it was benign, the only option was chemotherapy, as it was too close to her brain stem to operate.
"Being told that Charlotte needed chemotherapy totally threw us," her mum, Clare, says. "I didn't know that you could have chemo for anything other than cancer."
Charlotte began an 18-month treatment course, but thanks to stable scans, the programme ended two months early. Today, she’s doing well and returns to GOSH every six months.
"GOSH has become an extension of our lives," Clare says. "I see the staff there more than I see some of my own family. It's been a surreal two years."
Charlotte’s Race for the Kids
"We signed up for RBC Race for the Kids in 2022 as we were very keen to give back to GOSH,” Claire says. “We had a really good time, so we decided it was something we'd do every year!
"There are lots of different people who take part; some in wheelchairs, some in pushchairs, and some scooting. It has a real community feel. Last year, Charlotte took part in her pushchair, but this year she’ll probably walk part of it and be on my husband’s shoulders for the rest.
"The entertainment was great. There was a woman doing bubbles, and the team from Butlin's were there too. It was a really lovely day."
Join RBC Race for the Kids to help build the new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH and help more children like Charlotte.
Pictured: Charlotte and her family smiling holding their RBC Race for the Kids medals in London's Hyde Park.
Pictured: GOSH patient, Charlotte, at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Pictured: GOSH patient, Charlotte, and her family smiling and standing in Great Ormond Street Hospital in front of the end of treatment bell.
