A dedicated fundraiser is preparing to lace up her trainers for a gruelling trek from London to Brighton to mark a poignant anniversary. Tallulah Chalstrey will run and walk the 100km route to commemorate 10 years since losing her childhood friend, Lexi May Hopkin.
A Devastating Loss
Lexi was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2015, and died in January 2016 aged just eight years old. When Lexi died, her friend, then aged 14, vowed to make a difference. Over the years, she has thrown herself into raising funds and awareness of brain tumours, including climbing the Three Peaks and running the London Marathon in support of different charities connected to Lexi.
The 100km Challenge
On Saturday, May 23, Tallulah will set out on her toughest challenge yet – 10km for each year since Lexi died. The 24-year-old, from Llansamlet, said: "Lexi was a ray of sunshine. She had this incredible ability to light up every room she walked into, whether it was through her silly dance moves or infectious laughter. She was courageous, caring and super confident, with such a big personality and even bigger ambitions. She left a lasting impact on everyone lucky enough to know her."
"Losing her was devastating, and it left me struggling to understand how someone so full of life could be taken so unfairly and so young. Sadly, in the 10 years since she died, I’ve also known several other people whose lives have been deeply affected by brain tumours and the loss that comes with them."
"I wanted to take on something especially meaningful to mark 10 years since we lost Lexi. The idea of 100km felt symbolic: 10km for every year we’ve been without her."
The London2Brighton Ultra Challenge
The London2Brighton Ultra Challenge is a renowned test of endurance and determination. Runners start in Richmond-upon-Thames, then head over the North Downs to the halfway point at Turners Hill, West Sussex, before crossing the South Downs towards the Brighton coastline. For Tallulah, it will be a continuous challenge of running and walking until the finish line, and she is in no doubt about the scale of the task ahead.
She continued: "Training’s been long, tiring, and at times overwhelming - but I’ve loved every step. Running through the roads and trails of Wales has reminded me why I’m doing this, and how lucky I am to be able to. To prepare, I’ve focused on a mixture of running and walking to build endurance and get used to spending long periods of time on my feet."
"I’ve also started choosing to run or walk places instead of driving whenever possible, which has become a really positive habit that I hope continues after the challenge is over! What I’m dreading most is probably the blisters and the strain on my knees. I’m hoping they hold up for me!"
"But I’m looking forward to pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and proving to myself that I’m capable of something this demanding, both physically and mentally. I know it will be emotional at times, but I’m excited to see what I can achieve for such an important cause."
"If I struggle, I’ll remind myself that any pain or exhaustion I feel is temporary. Lexi, and so many others lost to brain tumours, never got the opportunity to take on challenges like this or continue living the lives they deserved. Remembering that will give me the motivation to keep going."
Fundraising Success
Fundraising is going brilliantly, with friends and family helping Tallulah towards her £5,000 target. Tallulah added: "The journey to the start line has already been incredible. From online raffles filled with amazing prizes, to six weeks of quiz nights hosted by the amazing team at The Swigg in Swansea, who alone helped raise £600 - every bit of support has meant the world. I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated. My family are all coming to support me and that will be such a big help."
"Brain tumours are a devastating disease and remain the biggest cancer killer of people under 40. I’m taking on this challenge not only to honour Lexi’s memory, but to help raise awareness of the reality so many families face and to raise vital funds towards research. My hope is that, one day, fewer families will have to experience the heartbreak and pain that brain tumours cause."
Charity Support
Stacey Vincent, from the community fundraising team at The Brain Tumour Charity, commented: "A huge thank you to Tallulah for her dedication and hard work preparing for her gruelling challenge. Every day in the UK, 36 people hear the words ‘you have a brain tumour’ – and unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved over the last 40 years."
"We are leading the way in changing this and truly fighting brain tumours on all fronts through our work. It’s through the incredible efforts of people like Tallulah that we can change these shocking statistics in the future and bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year."
The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts. It funds pioneering research to increase survival and improve treatment options, as well as raising awareness of brain tumour symptoms and effects to bring about earlier diagnosis. The charity also provides support for everyone affected so that they can live as full a life as possible, with the best quality of life.
