Published on 2 November 2021
A week of healthy and wellbeing activities helped children raise almost £3,000 for the hospital where a classmate received treatment for cancer.
Pupils at Spring Grove School in Wye took part in a 10km walk, challenged teachers to a swimming contest, held charity netball and football matches and enjoyed yoga and dance classes as part of their health and wellbeing week.
They collected a total of £2,710 for Padua Ward at the William Harvey Hospital, where five-year-old Daisy Loudon received chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with a rare cancer at the age of just two.
Daisy, who is in Year 1 at the school, had Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, or LCH, with tumours identified in her scalp, gut and spleen.
Her parents Hugo and Serena said: “Daisy’s diagnosis was followed by a year of treatment, predominantly via chemotherapy and steroids, administered both at Great Ormond Street Hospital and at the wonderful Padua Ward at the William Harvey. Here, Daisy’s treatment was led by Jill Urand - a truly exceptional paediatric oncology consultant and an amazing person.
“Dr Urand and her team cared for us all to the highest level to ensure that our journey - and most importantly Daisy’s - was as bearable as possible. Daisy continued to amaze us with her bravery and cheerfulness through days spent at the hospital and weekly blood tests expertly administered by the wonderful local community nurses.”
Daisy is now thriving, both at school and at home, but her family have been warned the cancer could recur so they are fundraising for medical research and have also donated money to charity Histio UK.
Dr Urand attended the school to receive the cheque on behalf of East Kent Hospitals Charity.
She said: “It was a privilege to be able to visit the school and meet Daisy and her family again, and to see how well she is doing.
“The children raised a fantastic amount and it will make a real difference to the experience of other young patients who are cared for on Padua Ward.
“We are hugely grateful and humbled by their support.”
For more information on how to support East Kent Hospitals Charity, which raises funds for wards and services across the Trust, visit
https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/
