In late February of this year, Ella, my wonderful 7 year Niece, had the shock diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumour. She had an initial 12 hour surgery followed by 6 smaller surgeries which thankfully have removed a significant amount of her cancer. Ella is now in Manchester undergoing specialist proton beam radiotherapy and will lose her hair as part of the treatment.

I am cutting my hair (13 inches off it !) and Ella has led the way by donating 10 inches of her hair ahead of treatment starting. We are both donating it to the Little Princess Trust to make into a wig for other young people who are going through a similar ordeal. The Little Princess Trust have been kind enough to donate a wig to Ella and we will all be forever thankful for this, another of Ella's aunties is having a fundraiser for the LPT.

All monies raised in this fundraiser will go to Young Lives Vs Cancer who have helped Ella and her family by giving them use of a 'home from home' whilst she was in hospital. Ella lives in Armagh which is a significant journey and this allowed her parents stayed in 'Paul's house' which is 2 minutes away from the RVH. Ella's parents want to say thanks to Young Lives Vs Cancer and have requested that they are the chosen charity for the donations.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. But every day 12 more children and young people hear the devastating news they have cancer. We’ll face it all together – but we can’t do it without you.

To find out more visit www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk