Brave Bebington 12-year-old raises thousands of pounds for charity while fighting a brain tumour

Dec 2 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

A BRAVE Bebington youngster has raised thousands of pounds for charity while battling a brain tumour.

Annie Kell was just two weeks into her first term at Bebington High Sports College when she was diagnosed with a brain stem tumour.

The 12-year-old had suffered headaches and sickness but doctors told her parents Lynn and Mike it was probably caused by hormones or the stress of starting a new school.

The tumour was discovered at a routine sight test carried out by New Ferry optician Peter McMullen.

Since the diagnosis last September Annie has endured two operations and radiotherapy.

She is now receiving daily oral chemotherapy and will have another scan in January.

Annie has taken on the fundraising challenge after meeting another family during her treatment who were raising money for the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, a charity dedicated to funding research into brain tumours.

Currently only 1% of cancer research spending is used for brain tumours

Lynn, 46, says her inspirational daughter has “defied the odds” and is spurring friends and family on to fundraise.

She said: “When we were going to Clatterbridge for Annie’s treatment we met another mum and daughter and became really good friends with them.

“The daughter Hannah, 16, was having hooded tops made with the charity’s head to head logo and Annie told me she’d like to do that. So far we’ve raised nearly £1,000 from selling her hoodies.

“We also did the Race for Life in July and Annie raised £145, more than any of her family and friends.”