A COUPLE from Bishopsteignton is raising money for a charity which helped them when their daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Francesca Walder was just 12 when she was diagnosed with the tumour in October last year following an eye test.
She was then sent to Bristol Children’s Hospital for emergency treatment.
Throughout the heart-breaking months, the family has been supported by the charity Young Lives Vs Cancer.
Now dad Chris and mum Victoria have launched a fundraising campaign to support the charity which helped them during Francesca’s diagnosis and treatment.
Their Just Giving fundraiser has already reached more than £7,000.
Chris said he and Francesca’s family want to ‘give back to the charity which gave us so much support’.
He explained that Francesca, the youngest of three children, was diagnosed with the tumour last October and after successful surgery in Bristol Children’s Hospital, she underwent five weeks of intensive radiotherapy in the Bristol haemotology and oncology centre.
As the family lives in Bishopsteignton, Chris and Victoria had to stay 100 miles away in Bristol for the duration of Francesca’s treatment and to support her through ‘such a tough time’.
Chris said: ‘That’s when Young Lives vs Cancer stepped in and we were able to stay in very comfortable warm charity accommodation within easy walking distance of the hospital.
‘I genuinely don’t know what we would have done without them.
‘All the staff and fellow patients and families were amazing and of such support.’
Francesca’s prognosis now looks positive after two clear scans following the end of her treatment.
Life will be challenging for Fran, Chris says, going forwards as the tumour has done irreparable damage to her pituitary gland resulting in diabetes insipidus and to her eyesight leaving her visually impaired.
Chris said: ‘So it’s small steps on what will be a long journey.’
A group of Chris’ school and university friends from The King’s School, Canterbury and The University of Liverpool have clubbed together to walk at least 500 miles, as well as some head shaving and hair braiding, to help the fundraising which Chris says is an ‘amazing charity, which really gave us a lifeline at such a critical time’.
This starts on Saturday, June 22.
Chris said: ‘The NHS often comes in for such bad press, so it’s really important to highlight how truly amazing and life-saving they have been.
‘Fran left a lesson at school on a Tuesday afternoon to go over the road for a follow-up eye appointment.
‘The results of this prompted an overnight stay with the tumour diagnosed on the Wednesday followed by blue lights up to Bristol that day with the surgery carried out on the Thursday.
'The care she then received in Daisy ward and the radiology department was unbelievable.
‘Furthermore this has since continued from Bramble ward in Exeter after we returned home.’
Friends have been donating with one saying the family has shown ‘amazing strength and adversity’ and Francesca was a ‘star’ and an ‘inspiration’.