Winchester Woman Embarks on 1,200-Mile Trek for Brain Tumour Research in Memory of Courageous Boy
A Winchester woman is gearing up for an extraordinary 1,200-mile journey from Land's End to John O'Groats this March, dedicating her efforts to Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Christina Dolding, aged 60, is taking on this massive challenge to honor the memory of Ollie Gardiner, a brave 13-year-old boy from Aylesbury who tragically lost his life to an aggressive brain tumour. Her goal is to raise £10,000 for the charity Brain Tumour Research, funding crucial efforts to find a cure for this devastating disease.
A Heartfelt Tribute to Ollie Gardiner
Ollie Gardiner was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma at just 10 years old after experiencing persistent headaches and sickness. Despite undergoing surgery and seeking specialist treatment abroad, he passed away in November 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Christina first met the Gardiner family through her work at the wealth management firm Quilter, where colleagues had previously raised £80,000 for Ollie's treatment.
"Hearing of Ollie's diagnosis was utterly heartbreaking," Christina shared. "After Ollie's funeral, his father expressed fear that Ollie might be forgotten. I promised myself then that if I ever had the chance to shine a light on his story again, I would. This walk is that promise kept."
A New Chapter of Purpose and Determination
Christina views this trek as a purposeful new chapter in her life, demonstrating that it is never too late to make a difference. "I'm 60 and just, but I'm far from done," she explained. "This is about showing what's possible when you step into a new chapter with purpose. I'm not a natural athlete, but when you have a reason bigger than yourself, you find strength you didn't know you had."
She added, "Ollie's family let me into the worst period of their lives with extraordinary generosity. That changed me fundamentally. This walk is about what happens when people come together for something bigger than themselves."
A Family Effort to Honor Ollie's Memory
The challenge is a true family endeavor, with Christina's husband, David, serving as her dedicated support crew. In a full-circle twist, David will cycle the entire route in reverse this June, with Christina supporting him. "This is very much a team adventure," Christina said. "We met at work, worked brilliantly together, and now we're taking on this adventure as a team."
David expressed his inspiration, stating, "Watching Christina take on this challenge is incredibly inspiring. Supporting her from Land's End to John O'Groats with Minty the mint-green rucksack, a few SAS audiobooks for grit, and plenty of ABBA to keep us moving feels like our way of honoring Ollie together. Cycling back in June is my part in making sure his memory keeps travelling the length of the country."
Addressing a Critical Health Issue
The couple's efforts come at a vital time, as brain tumours remain the leading cancer killer of children and adults under 40. Ollie's father, Peter Gardiner, expressed humility at their dedication. "Research into brain tumours is still massively underfunded, and brain tumours remain the number one cancer killer of the under-40s," Peter said. "We hope that the funds raised will help find a cure to this terrible disease and stop future families from enduring what we have and continue to endure. It breaks our hearts that it's now too late for our Ollie, but there are lots more current and future children who desperately need a cure."
Letty Greenfield from Brain Tumour Research praised the pair, saying, "Christina and David's commitment is truly inspiring. Together, we can raise the awareness and the funding needed to find a cure."
Supporters can contribute to Christina and David's journey by donating via their JustGiving page.
