WHALLEY RANGE TEEN WITH CANCER TO DONATE HER HAIR FOR OTHER CHILDREN

Fifteen-year-old Jahzara Edmonson from Whalley Range, Manchester, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013 as a six-year-old, and following two complex operations and Proton Beam Therapy, remained cancer-free for nine years.

In November 2022, a routine scan found that a tumour had returned in her spine, and she underwent another operation to remove it.

Without therapy, a tumour is likely to reappear within six months. However, the NHS will only fund one round of Proton Beam Therapy per person – the safest form of treatment, leaving Jahzara ineligible.

Her family is now desperately trying to raise £100,000 to send Zahara to Essen in Germany for the treatment which she would ideally have before the end of March.

Jahzara and her sister Ayesha, 33, a probation officer in Manchester, will both be having their hair shaved to donate to the Little Princess Trust which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair. This event will take place on Thursday Feb 2 at 11am at the Trendco salon in Manchester City Centre.

Mum Gill, 58, a GP who has worked in South Manchester practices for the last 20 years said:

Quote

 

'It is devastating that the cancer has come back after all this time. It's also very unusual.'

'Jahzara has recovered well from her recent operation at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, but she now needs radiotherapy to stop the cancer recurring again.'

'Sadly because she has already had the Proton Beam Therapy many years ago, she is not eligible to have this again on the NHS.'

'Her oncologist agrees that this is the safest form for her. Proton Beam Therapy targets only the affected area, while standard radiotherapy will also affect many of her vital organs including her heart, stomach and ovaries. We are desperate to raise this money to send her to Essen to avoid potentially devastating side-effects.'

'Jahzara is a normal teenager who loves drawing and hopes to be a film-maker when she grows up. All we want is to beat this cancer which we thought had already gone, and let her get on with her life without having to battle the awful side effects traditional radiotherapy is likely to have.'

 

The family has already raised around £14,000 from family, friends, and well-wishers, and need to raise a total of £100,000 to cover treatment, travel and rehabilitation.

The family is being supported by children's charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children like Jahzara with healthcare needs and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid, corporate support while also providing donor reassurance.

Tree of Hope CEO Gill Gibb said:

Quote

'We wish Jahzara and her Ayisha all the best with their hair shave and the family with their fundraising efforts and hope Jahzara can get her treatment as quickly as possible.'

To donate to Jahzara's fund, visit https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/jahzara-the-war-on-cancer-part-ii/

For more information about Little Princess Trust, visit https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/