A TEENAGER who is battling with cancer is hoping to raise £5,000 for charity.
Leah Powell, aged 13, of Leek, was diagnosed with cancer last June and went on to have regular chemotherapy to reduce the size of a tumour which was under her right arm.
She then had an operation to remove the rest of the tumour, and travelled to America to have Proton Beam Therapy.
Unfortunately, after travelling across the Atlantic with her family, a scan revealed that the original tumour had grown back, and that the cancer had spread into her chest, resulting in Leah being unable to have the specialist treatment.
Now back home, Leah has had radiotherapy and is now having another course of chemotherapy, but is positive that she will beat the cancer.
She said: “I was disheartened not to be able to have the Proton Beam Therapy, and was scared at the time when they told me the tumour had grown back and that there was more cancer.
“I now also have tumours in my legs and spine, but the doctors keep telling me that there is treatment.
“The treatment I am on now is working as you can visibly see that the tumours are going down.
“Some days I am positive, but others I feel down and just don’t want to talk to anyone because I feel angry.” Leah had a treat this month when she met her pop idol, Olly Murs, in London, courtesy of the Rays of Sunshine Charity.
She said: “I went to one of his sound checks and met him in person.
He was really nice and loved the ‘Brit Award’ that my mum had made him."
As Leah continues with her treatment, she is focusing on raising money for Ronald McDonald House, where her family stay while she is at Manchester Hospital.
Leah’s mum Jane said: “The Ronald McDonald House has provided us with a nice place to stay every time Leah has been to hospital.
We would like to raise £5,000 to be able to sponsor a room there for three years.” In an attempt to raise the £5,000, Leah and her mum are hosting a ‘Love For Leah Mad March Fun Day and Fundrave’ at The Foxlowe Arts Centre on Easter Saturday, March 30.
The daytime part of the event will include a bouncy castle, facepainting, stalls, a raffle, an auction, a magic show and an Easter Egg hunt, while the evening event, which will be by ticket only, will be a disco provided by popular Leek DJ Nick Sheldon.
As part of the Love For Leah campaign, Jane is running an Easter-themed colouring competition.
Here is the 'Love For Leah' template of an Easter Egg for youngsters to colour in.....
Entries can be dropped off by March 28 at Jane’s toy shop Over The Rainbow in Derby Street, Leek.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to print out the above image, copies of the template are also available from the Leek Post & Times reception in the Smithfield Centre, Haywood Street, Leek.
