In January 2018 Emily was diagnosed with a Diffuse Midline Glioma (formerly DIPG) a rare and aggressive paediatric brain tumour. There are only 20-30 cases a year diagnosed and the survival is only between 9 and 18 months. Due to the fact brain tumour research is highly underfunded and little is known about cures and treatments, hundreds of people diagnosed are forced to look elsewhere across the globe in order to find an answer. 

Emily set up for her 21st birthday the Emily Oliver fighting fund to raise funds for research into her specific type of tumour. There has been little if any new treatments in almost 50 years for high grade gliomas. After her diagnosis she was determined to return to her nursing career at Nottingham University and to live. We tried everything possible to find a cure even undertaking a high-risk biopsy of her brain stem tumour which was sent to Germany to create a bespoke vaccine. Unfortunately, despite seeking advice from across the world Emily deteriorated over the 15 months following her diagnosis and was admitted to the Princess Alice hospice for the weeks before she died in July 2019.

Emily’s friends have been truly remarkable and a real credit to her love kindness and friendship. Many of them have raised money for her fund and last last year we were able to use the money that we have raised in her name, to help fund research at the Institute of Cancer Research led by Professor Chris Jones.

Emily would want us to do everything we can to support vital research into this truly devastating illness so that these young people can live the life that was taken away from her.