All the Way to Chay

21/05/2025

Please keep sharing Chayton's story, and please continue to donate if you're able ❤️

Every share and every penny makes a difference!

It's been a tough couple of weeks but there will be another fundraising update soon 🙏

12/05/2025

We've had a few quiet social media days, but this is the latest count 🙂

*Tuesday 6th May*
Scarlett - 50km
Violet - 0.54km
Raven - 1.76km
Raven - 9.1km
Mark - 5.7km
Kassi - 12.26km
Logan - 40km
Logan - 10km
A real family effort! Couldn't have been prouder of how everyone mucked in and got involved, mostly done on the exercise bike while juggling the daily chores! 🥰

And it's just as well because...

*Wednesday 7th May*
We all had a day off! 🥳

Wednesdays are generally our busiest day as we juggle work, clubs, music lessons, and church events, and we felt it was important to openly acknowledge that some days our focus is going to be entirely elsewhere... no regrets at all! 😁

(I did feel bad for this, but I felt reminded that Like Mary, listening intently at the feet of Jesus as her sister Martha was working in the background, sometimes the best thing to do is to simply be present!☝️)

*Thursday 8th May*
Violet - 1.19km
Violet - 3.25km
Violet - 2.23km
Kassi - 1.06km
Logan - 50km
Again, all done on the exercise bike again, apart from my short walk to the shop. We're particularly grateful for Logan's ability to adapt as he has combined this with his gaming and socialising with his friends, and he's like a machine - he just keeps going! 💪

(This has also been such an eye opening experience for us as parents, as we've witnessed the love the kids have for their cousins and their determination to support them. As we live so far away from Chay and his family we don't get to see this much but it's beautiful! You guys are AMAZING ❤️)

*Friday 9th May*
Violet - 3.80km
Kassi - 5.07km
Kassi - 8.61km
Mark - 1.5km
Mark - 12.5km
Kassi - 5.05km
Logan - 50km
School run done at a leisurely pace, on foot in the sun! Life can be hectic and I recall just thinking how nice it was to take in the green fields and the big blue sky and the bees! 🐝

So much to be grateful for, and when life is heavy sometimes it's these little things that make all the difference 😍

*Saturday 10th May*
Logan - 50km
Mark - 3.8km
What even happened on Saturday??! 🤔😵‍💫

No, seriously?? 😂

*Sunday 11th May*
Logan - 10km
Logan - 4km
Logan - 16km
Logan - 20km
We had an early start for church and then had friends round for dinner in the garden, taking time to appreciate some of the people in our lives who we just love!

Extra extra grateful for Logan keeping our tally going over this crazy weekend!

So, the new total is... 481.2km!

🧠 BRAIN NUGGET 🧠

- 481km works out at around 299 miles, and is the same length as the Cambrian Way, a long-distance walking trail in Wales that reaches from Cardiff to Conwy.
- The distance from Kenu to Abuja, both in Nigeria, is also approximately 481.2km.

Please keep following our challenge, and don't forget that this is all in support of Chayton's fundraiser - if you can donate please do so via gofund.me/33be954a and remember EVERY PENNY HELPS!

- Kassi ⭐️

Hi friends, families and folks who don't know us yet. We're deeply sadenned to sa… Pleiades Falcus needs your support for Chay's battle with brain cancer

09/05/2025

‼️72% of UK adults unable to name a single brain tumor symptom ‼️

This is a statistic taken from research by The Brain Tumour Charity, and quite frankly it's terrifying considering more than 12,000 people are diagnosed with this each year!

❓️ Do you know what the symptoms are?? ❓️

We want to encourage you to get interactive here, no matter where you are in the world, post the symptoms you know of below and we'll identify the facts over the coming days, weeks and months 🧠
(Try your best not to use Google! 😉)

Let's fill our brains with the info we need to bring change!

06/05/2025

Time to share the latest count..

*4th May*
Kassi - 6km
Violet - 0.6km
Logan - 0.9km
Kassi - 9km
Mark - 4km
This was all impressively done post-Sunday dinner! 😋

(It's also sadly the day our trusty treadmill died - it may have faltered at the onset of this mammoth challenge, a bit like the Israelite army at the sight of Goliath.. but we are 'David' people and after a bit of a wobble we picked up our 'stones and sling' and dug out the exercise bike 😁)

*5th May*
Kassi - 4.1km
Violet - 2.7km
Mark - 4.1km
Violet - 1.1km
Mark - 3.2km
Violet - 0.2km
Raven - 2.3km
Mark - 2.6km
Kassi - 0.98km
Logan - 23km
Mostly done on the exercise bike, but the teenagers were very excited to help Grandma Eileen and Grandad Brian walk the dogs in the evening, so in part the steps were gathered just like pebbles along the riverside in Consett 🐾 an image I just love ❤️

(Also, I love seeing how the little distances all add up and deliberately didn't combine them all. I think it's important to see that as a busy family we do "what we can, when we can", even if that means grabbing 10 mins while dinner is in the oven. Nothing is ever wasted ❤️)

Distance in total so far - 103.78km

The brain nugget was so popular last time that we just had to do it again 🧠

So, did you know?

A cheetah can move from a standstill to 103km p/h in just 3 seconds! 🤯
And 103km is the approximate length of the Le Man's triangular circuit that was used in the early Grand Prix events 🚴‍♀️

- Kassi ⭐️

06/05/2025

Chayton's story..

Chayton was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in late August 2023 and he had surgery to remove it at the beginning of that September. To everyone's relief tests showed that the tumor was benign and what followed was a period of recovery and of finding a new kind of normality. As those who have experienced something like this will know, things don't easily go back to the way they were, especially as there are regular check ups to monitor the site for changes.

I remember conversations with Pleiades, Chayton's mum, where we would just marvel at how well he was doing. Genuinely, 'miraculous' is the only word for it!
He had gone back to school and was doing all of the things normal 11-12 year olds do.

The routine MRI scan that was done in January 2025 at his regular check up then began to show signs of change, it wasn't clear what the change was but it prompted further investigation, and by the next scan 6 weeks later the tumor had grown substantially. Pleiades had sent me the report and as someone without a medical degree it was pretty confusing, but there was no doubt that the doctors suspected it could have become cancerous.

Surgery to remove this second tumor took place on March 19th and the results were in a couple of weeks later. It is indeed cancer. A high grade glioma which is aggressive and fast growing.
A young person with this kind of diagnosis would usually be facing a prognosis of 1-2years, however there is hope as a genetic component in the make up of the tumor provides a focus for targeted treatment.

Life becomes so incredibly precious in moments like this and for Chayton's family there was only one option. You can't waste time like this and every minute is dedicated to being with him and making the most of the blessing that he is.

This is where we have stepped in. Pleiades had already started a Go Fund Me page to raise money to allow them to step away from their business and refocus their energy into Chayton. We haven't started another Go Fund Me page, we simply want to bring attention to the needs of this family and call out for people's hearts to be stirred to help. Genuinely, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

Chayton has had one further surgery since in preparation for radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it was a much more invasive procedure as the doctors felt that removing as much of the tumor as physically possible would support a better outcome overall. It came with additional risks as dealing with the brain can lead to damage to bodily functions, but luckily so far everything looks good.
He is currently in hospital recovering from this and hopes to go home soon, attending as an outpatient for his radiation appointments shortly.

Please donate if you can.
If you can't donate then please please please share the Go Fund Me link with your family and friends. Finally, please share this page and spread the word.
🙏

Thankyou!

04/05/2025

The process of getting everything up and running has taken a few days, but this is the count so far!

*1st May*
Mark - 10.7km
Kassi - 10.3km
We walked along the beach and came up with the plan ⛱️
(This is where we do our best thinking! Let us know where you do yours!)

*2nd May*
Kassi - 6km
On the treadmill, wondering if this it the right thing to do 🫣 👟
(This is usually where anxiety and doubt would have brought my plans to a standstill, but moving forward in faith. I may not be enough, but He is ☝️)

*3rd May*
Kassi - 12km
On the treadmill, feeling good about the plan! 👟
Plan approved by Chay ❤️
(Family all in, Let's go!!!)

Distance so far - 39km
(This is the equivalent of 24 miles, and apparently also the distance that skydiver Felix Baumgartner fell after jumping from a helium balloon, breaking the sound barrier and travelling approximately 1,357km per hour. Ultimately setting a world record. Random little brain nugget for you there 😉)

- Kassi ⭐️

04/05/2025

❤️ Donations can be made via Chayton's Go Fund Me page ❤️

gofund.me/33be954a

04/05/2025

A warm and heartfelt welcome to our fundraising page ❤️ we hope you will spend some time getting to know the story behind it and finding out what we're up to.

We are an average family of 6 from Newcastle upon Tyne who are seeking to raise awareness of brain cancer and raise funds to support the care and wellbeing of our much loved Canadian family as they navigate their son Chayton's cancer journey.

There have been so many people consistently and tirelessly praying and reaching out, and the support has been incredible.. but we have been quietly seeking other ways to help too.

So, we worked out that from our little house in Rowlands Gill to Chaytons house in Ottawa is 5,132km (3,189miles) and we have decided that between us we are going to travel that distance 'ALL THE WAY TO CHAY' by the end of 2025.

This works out at 20-30km a day and can be walking or running, cycling or skipping, out in the fresh air or on the treadmill!

Please consider supporting our efforts by making a donation to Chaytons Go Fund Me page.

Other fundraising ideas in the pipeline too so please follow our page to keep in the loop!

Thankyou ❤️