As with most charities in existence, our story starts with a loved one getting ill. Annie is a sister, daughter, wife and mother and in July 2015 was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a brain tumour. Despite the news however, Annie has remained positive and keen to raise funds for other people in her situation. Annie’s Challenge was born out of this desire and a desire to share her story.

Annie’s story starts on 16 May 1986, as the third child of Nick and Madeleine. Her upbringing was somewhat different to many other children, as she developed a number of learning difficulties at a very young age indeed not speak until she was 10 years old. As a consequence she attended a number of specialist schools around England designed to encourage and offer the support that ordinary schools could not provide. Despite what many people saw as a set back, Annie thrived. She grew into an independent, determined young lady with a unparalleled desire to better herself. Taking on new challenges with breathtaking dexterity from cross country running, to kayaking and embroidery! On leaving school, the job market was always going to be tricky for her but she, once again, overcame the hurdles put in her way and secured a full time job at Clarke and Simpson, a firm of chartered surveyors local to where she was brought up. A few years later Annie met David, her husband to be. They married in September 2010 in the local church of St Michael’s, Framlingham on a typical English day, mixed weather, wonderful home cooked food and heaps of bunting! Annie and David were keen to start a family and a year later, Noah was born. Not content with one however, another baby in the form of Lily arrived to complete the family. Annie is a natural mother who has made her children the centre of her and David’s world. For further updates to her more recent activities, Annie has started a blog, the link to which can be found on this website.

Annie’s Challenge is a family run charity based in the heart of Suffolk. The board of trustees is made up of Annie’s parents, siblings and husband who not only try to organise fund raising activities but are also putting themselves on the front line to do so!

Update 3rd April 2016
Our beautiful courageous Annie slipped away from us on Monday 7th March. A hard journey ended. She managed it step by step as she had to. We who supported her were in awe of her strength and determination. The word "brave" would never have occurred to her. She was a very special young lady.