Young Edie to be 41st runner in National racecard as she fights brain tumour

A year on from Bradley Lowery's appearance as honorary number 41 in the Grand National, this year's racecard for the world's most famous race will feature three-year-old Edith Molyneux in a bid to raise awareness over her fight against a rare brain tumour.

Edith, known as Edie, is currently in Mexico undergoing treatment for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which is a tumour that occurs in children in the centre of the brain.

In a video sent by the family from Mexico, Edie's mother Ashleigh said: "On November 30 of last year, our world was crushed – Edie was diagnosed with DIPG, a rare childhood brain tumour which is currently inoperable, untreatable and fatal in the UK. We were told by our doctors to go home and make memories with the family – but then we found hope.

"In Mexico, there is pioneering treatment that uses intra-arterial chemotherapy which is having good results and showing good progress. We've been in Monterrey, Mexico for three months now, leaving our family and friends behind.

"The most recent MRI scan from early March shows a small amount of shrinkage which is a massive step because we had been previously told that the tumour was stable and was not growing.

"Please support us in any way you can, even if it's just liking and sharing the Spider-Ede page on Facebook and telling people all about the disease."

Edie's silks for the Grand National are based on the costume of Spider-Man, her favourite superhero. Her write-up in the racecard reads: "Making her Aintree debut, Edie loves walking in the park, playing with her puppy Ellie and gymnastics. But most of all she loves playing with her brother and sister and cuddles with Mummy and Daddy. Sure to make an impact, so will be well supported."

Bradley Lowery on the back of Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox during last year's honorary appearanceCredit: John Grossick

Edie's situation came to the attention of Aintree through their continued work with the Bradley Lowery Foundation, which was officially launched last August, shortly after Bradley's tragic death at the age of six from a rare form of cancer. The charity's aim is to support fundraising campaigns for children with rare diseases. Donations to the foundation can be made here.

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