A group of mums, including one from Chalfont St Peter, have won JustGiving’s Fundraising Team of the Year Award.
On Wednesday, September 18, the mums were presented with the award during a ceremony that set out to celebrate “eight of the world’s most incredible fundraisers”.
At the age of 12, Rebecca Gaskell’s daughter, Grace, was diagnosed with a rare inoperable brain tumour. After a gruelling two-and-a-half years during which she endured difficult treatments, Grace passed away on November 2, 2020.
Following her tragic loss, Rebecca joined the Angel Mums, who have all lost a child to a brain tumour. Each year, the group set themselves a challenge to help raise money and provide hope for families going through similar heartbreak.
In October last year, the group raised an amazing £79,402 by completing a skydive for the Tessa Jowell Foundation, which aims to ensure that every child diagnosed with a brain tumour will have access to world-class treatment and care at NHS hospitals.
Rebecca said: “It was an incredibly hard journey to go on. We hope to offer a glimmer of hope for children who will be diagnosed with brain cancer.”
In recognition of their amazing fundraising journey, JustGiving contacted the group to say they had been shortlisted from 18,000 nominations of groups who have been raising money for a range of causes.
Rebecca shared: “The stories of the other nominations were just incredible. It was one of the most emotional evenings. The JustGiving team had placed tissues on the table and they were needed.”
Alongside the Angel Mums, finalists Paul and Karen from Wonky Hearts were in attendance at the ceremony. They were recognised for cycling 550 miles for PAPYRUS in memory of their son Harry, who died by suicide shortly after receiving his A Level results.
Team Corinne were also listed as finalists, having organised a mammoth calendar of fundraising events in aid of motor neurone disease charities following Corinne’s diagnosis with the condition at age 42.
After the Angel Mums were announced as the winners, Rebecca said: “Our name was called out and we just couldn’t believe it. There were 18 of us who went along to the awards, which was so special.
“Our motto is ‘from pain comes hope’. Through the pain we have endured from losing our children, we can give hope to families.”
Rebecca also shared that the award “brought back happy memories” of when Grace won the Emily Mott Child of Courage Award at the mylocalHero Awards in 2019, in recognition of her bravery and heroism.
For the Angel Mums, the work is far from over. The group has continued to grow in numbers, acting not only as a fundraising group but also as a reliable, supportive network for parents who have suffered an unimaginable loss.
This year, the group are taking on an Earth, Wind and Fire Challenge which so far has seen them climb Mount Snowdon and complete a wing walk. On Saturday, October 19, they will finish the challenge with a walk over hot coals.
On their fundraising page, the group shared: “We can tell you now that most of us are terrified of taking part in these challenges, but we are driven by a need to make a change in memory of our children. None of us want to see others go through what our children have and face the life we now face without our children.”
To sponsor the Angel Mums in their next amazing feat and to find out more about the group, visit www.gofundme.com/f/the-angel-mums-need-you-fire-challenge
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