An aunt and her friend are embarking on a three-day walk from Richmond to Brighton, to raise money for her 19-year-old nephew’s cancer treatment.

On the weekend of October 17, Caroline Clifton and close friend, Katie, will begin their walk in Richmond Park stopping off at Coulsdon and Ardingly, before a final splash in the sea at Rottingdean.

Last summer Caroline’s teenage nephew was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer for which the average length of survival is 18 months.

After working hard and gaining great A Level results, Joel was looking forward to starting university in London in 2019. However, over the summer, he started suffering migraine-type headaches.

Doctors discovered a “golf ball-sized tumour” and he was whisked into hospital for emergency surgery. After a biopsy, Joel’s devastating diagnosis was given, and he has spent the past year being treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an immunology trial.

His family says there is no more treatment available on the NHS, only an expensive personal vaccine treatment (Dendritic Cell Vaccine), costing “a mind-boggling” £400,000 in total.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

“Within weeks of his diagnosis, Joel himself raised almost £20,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Now, it's time to do what we can for this brave and lovely young man.”

“By walking 100km from London to Brighton, this walk will be a first for us though and a massive challenge. (Neither of us is known for doing endurance events!)

“Donations will go towards this pioneering treatment will help Joel and also contribute to developing breakthrough cancer treatment for brain tumours to help others in the future,” said his aunt, Caroline.

You can find the fundraiser here: gofundme.com/f/helpjoellivelonger