On your marks!
The sun shone on the Royal Parks on Saturday 21 March when 1300 people took part in our flagship fundraising event – The Twilight Walk – to raise vital funds for research into brain tumours and the support services we offer.
Before setting off, amid a festival vibe, participants registered at our new venue – RHS Lindley Hall. It was a chance to meet up, grab refreshments, listen to speeches, take selfies, do some crafts, take more pictures at the photo booth, buy merchandise, get faces painted and scribe a note on the memory wall. Reminders of these activities were ably conveyed by our man on the mic – Master of Ceremonies Paul J Rose.
Get set
Following a warm up by fitness influencer Rod Buchanan, who himself has had treatment for a low grade brain tumour, the first wave lined up behind our teetering stilt walkers ready to tackle the 10km route.
They were set off by dynamic duo Mel Kelly and Molly Fenton from our cohort of Young Ambassadors.
And Harry Chesham – known as ‘Handstand Harry’ – filmed his daily upside-down fundraising challenge at the start line!
Along the route, there was entertainment by VooDoo Brass Band, the choir Some Voices and a steel band, while nourishment was provided by charity partners Jude’s Ice Cream, RE:WATER and Benugo foods.
Go!
The largest team taking part was 70 people – and a dog called Toffee – who walked in memory of Emily Smith, from St Alban’s in Hertfordshire. Emily was only eight when she died in 2022 – just 11 days after she was diagnosed with an aggressive childhood brain tumour.
Emily’s dad, Andy Smith, ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon and is running The TCS London Marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity. He previously ran it with his wife, Sarah, and his son Harry, now 15, has also completed some incredible Active April fundraising challenges for us. They have our heartfelt gratitude.
Kasey Brown, from Ipswich, completed the 5km route of The Twilight Walk in memory of her mum, Tricia, who died from a glioblastoma in 2023.
Kasey said: “To find The Brain Tumour Charity and all of the support and the whole community that’s involved was – for me – a complete lifesaver. So my reason for fundraising is in memory of my mum and for a cure. For me, personally, what really hurt the most was to see my mum go from a completely active woman to bedridden, so it’s around that quality of life as well. Yes we need the research, yes we need the cures, yes we need treatments that are easier on the body but we also need better steroids – we need better everything.
It’s great that there are so many people at The Twilight Walk because you’re connecting with people, you’re finding your people. People who have similar stories to you, people who have different stories to you – but you’re all here for the same cause. You all want the same thing. But on the other side of things, it’s so horrific that there are so many people here who are still going through this stuff. A change needs to happen.”
Kasey Brown
A first-timer in 2025, it was a return to the event for Chris Fowke, his daughter Kim, wife Sue and team. This year, he managed double the distance – motivated by the support and information that helped him and his family navigate his diagnosis and treatment for a meningioma.
The night Dad was initially admitted it was The Brain Tumour Charity website that I went onto straight away to get information. That information, together with the leaflets I sent off for, helped me get my questions together ready for the appointment with his consultant. And again, when Dad was discharged, we didn’t have anyone we could go to if we had any questions, so it was the charity’s website we relied on.”
Kim Fowke – Chris’s daughter
By contrast, it was a first time for Rob Harbord and his team, from St Neots.
He walked in memory of his brother Colin and has raised nearly £1300. His two nieces, Kerry and Amy, volunteered at the event and cheered people across the finish line.
It was also a first time for Tracey Freitas Smith, from Maidstone in Kent, who was diagnosed with a Grade 2 meningioma in December 2025. Her condition was discovered by chance when she had a scan following a fall at a London train station.
Tracey, 46, completed the walk with her husband, Graham, and has raised more than £9,000.
She said: “The Brain Tumour Charity provided immense support during this challenging time; I had numerous calls with them prior to my surgery, and I cannot thank them enough. Now, it’s my time to give back.”
Launched in 2013, The Twilight Walk has since raised £3.6m to support our work as the largest global funder of research into primary brain tumours.
At the last count this year’s event had raised just over £330,000. But that total is climbing as funds come in from 415 community walks that are taking place all over the UK. Thank you to every single person who took part, volunteered their time or donated.
