Give a gift to Cambs children unit this Christmas

AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl who has beaten leukaemia is backing The Hunts Post’s campaign to bring Christmas to Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s Holly children’s ward.

There are just 25 days until Christmas but there is still plenty of time to help make the day a happy one for children who will be spending it away from their families because they are too sick.

Georgia Webster is looking forward this year to unwrapping her presents at her St Neots home with mum Tracy and brother Antony, 14, but seven years ago it was a very different story for the Priory Junior School pupil.

Georgia was diagnosed aged two-and-a-half with leukaemia. The diagnosis came just months after a tragic road accident claimed the life of her father, David.

It took three and a half years of treatment, but Georgia is now fighting fit and keen to give something back to the people who made her stay in hospital bearable.

In September, she donated a Wii games console supplied by Tesco to the ward to mark the fifth anniversary of the all-clear. And now the youngster described by mum and medical staff as an ‘inspiration’ is calling for Hunts Post readers to donate one gift as part of our Holly’s Little Helpers campaign.

Georgia said: “When I was in there, I liked colouring, painting, the stuff you can do in bed, that takes time, not just five minutes. I went to the play room or asked for paints.

“For the kids, the Holly Ward, is quite a happy place because all the children go to the play room. The nurses and doctors make you laugh and they were really kind to me. They help make your procedures and treatment bearable.”

Georgia is so determined to make Christmas a happy one for youngsters who are sick that she has prepared a bag of toys to give to the ward and will be raising money for children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent outside Tesco in St Neots on Sunday from noon to 2pm with friends Beth, Millie and cousin Lauren.

The youngsters will be dressed in children’s character costumes donated by St Neots store Pepe’s Costume Hire. To learn the identity of their famous personae members of the public will have to turn up on the day.

Georgia said: “I want to help people but in a sort of a way that is not a doctor or a nurse. When I’m older, I want to do lots of fundraising.”

Mum Tracy described the years of treatment as harrowing, but said they were made better by the extra care and time given by hospital staff.

“Georgia was diagnosed after an asthma attack. She was given a routine blood test and the doctors picked up that her blood count was high. They sent a sample to Addenbrooke’s Hospital to be analysed and it came back as leukaemia.

“She was immediately transferred to Addenbrooke’s to start the chemo. She was in Addenbrooke’s for seven weeks to try to get the count down and under control. After that, the chemo was given in blocks of seven weeks and she was in and out of hospital all the time for temperatures and infections.

“Staff on Holly Ward did everything they could to make things as comfortable and supportive to the children and their families.”

INFORMATION: If you would like to give a gift you can drop one into The Hunts Post offices at 30 High Street, Huntingdon, before December 17. Gifts should be wrapped, with a note explaining what is inside.