LITTLE Lily-May Betts was just one when she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour – and after FOUR years of gruelling treatment, she was finally given the all-clear in February.
Lily-May is just one of the thousands of children and young people diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK who spend weeks, months or even years in hospital.
Little Lily-May Betts was just one when she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour
Children With Cancer UK finds care for them and their families as well as raising money for research.
And that is why we are asking YOU to help them.
Today we are launching Trending In The News on Sunday’s Xmas Cards For Kids campaign with our partner Tesco to raise money for the charity and buy presents for children living with cancer this Christmas.
We want YOUR CHILD to draw or paint a special picture with their favourite festive image.
Three winning drawings will be turned into 18,000 Christmas cards to be sold throughout Tesco stores.
Lily-May’s dad Stephen, a 28-year-old software engineer from Stevenage, Herts, says: “This campaign is so important — to raise awareness, help to fund vital research for childhood cancers and help buy presents for kids in hospital with cancer this year. It is hell to be in hospital at Christmas because you are so aware it’s not the way things should be.
“Please get drawing and encourage your kids to enter — you don’t know the difference that you might make to a family like ours.”
Mum Lianna, 28, told Trending In The News on Sunday how Lily-May, who was diagnosed with optic pathway glioma, started to lose weight before her first birthday.
Lianna said: “She had 18 months of chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street but then needed more treatment because the tumour grew.
“Finally we got the amazing news that the tumour was shrinking and she was able to ring the end-of-treatment bell. I can’t describe how wonderful that felt.”
Lily-May, now five, is planning to draw a Christmas-themed unicorn and puppy for our competition.
All entries need to be in by August 27. Our panel of judges — including Baroness Karren Brady, Tesco’s greeting cards specialist Stephanie Burrows and children’s author Liz Pichon, who wrote the Tom Gates series — will help pick the winners
Oonagh Turnbull, Tesco’s Head of Health Campaigns, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Children With Cancer UK and Trending In The News on Sunday to raise vital funds that will save lives.”
Lily-May, now five, is planning to draw a Christmas-themed unicorn and puppy for our competition
