Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Brave young dancer Lily Douglas is face of cancer fundraising appeal

Lily Douglas who is fighting a rare form of cancer, and is urging Scots to clear out their wardrobes and help save lives. (Cancer Research UK/PA Wire)
Lily Douglas who is fighting a rare form of cancer, and is urging Scots to clear out their wardrobes and help save lives. (Cancer Research UK/PA Wire)

 

A dancing champion fighting a rare form of cancer is urging Scots to clear out their wardrobes and help save lives.

Nine-year-old Lily Douglas, who has won almost 300 trophies and medals, is undergoing chemotherapy at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, before having a bone in her shoulder removed.

She was forced to cancel an audition with Scottish Ballet in April when doctors diagnosed Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of tumour found in the bone and soft tissue.

Lily was determined to keep dancing and triumphed in a solo dance category at the UDO Scottish Street Dance Championships in the summer, two days after her fourth round of chemotherapy.

The dancer is among 310 young people diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year.

To mark childhood cancer awareness month, she has been chosen to launch the Give Up Clothes for Good scheme.

People are being asked to donate good quality clothing, accessories and homeware at TK Maxx stores. Each bag donated could make up to £30 when sold in Cancer Research UK outlets.

Anguished mother reveals how nine-year-old daughter Lily Douglas is coping as she begins life-saving cancer treatment

Lily of Perth said: “I’ve been dancing since I was two and a half. As soon as I get a break from chemotherapy treatment then it’s getting back to dancing that makes me feel happy.

“If I’m out of hospital in the morning then I’ll often be back at a dance class or taking part in a dance competition by the same afternoon.

“Now I’d really like to help other children who have cancer. That’s why my mum and I will be having a good clear out at home and finding clothes and items to donate.

“I hope everyone across Scotland will get behind this campaign too and turn something unwanted into funds for such a fantastic cause.”

The nine-year-old, who has won almost 300 trophies and medals, is undergoing chemotherapy at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, before having a bone in her shoulder removed. (Lesley Martin/Cancer Research UK/PA Wire)

Her family found out about the condition on April 28 this year when doctors explained that Lily had a tumour in her shoulder and both lungs.

The dancer’s mum, Jane Douglas, 47, said: “When Lily had first complained of a sore shoulder I’d thought it was only a dance injury.

“She danced every day and looked so healthy. I remember saying to her, ‘it will be fine. You’ll have just pulled a muscle’. Cancer never even entered by head. Why would it?”

Doctors are still finalising a full treatment plan for Lily.

She will need 14 rounds of chemotherapy in total followed by surgery to remove a bone in her shoulder. She also needs either radiotherapy in the UK or proton beam therapy in America.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK kids and teens spokeswoman for Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see Lily as the face of Give up Clothes for Good in Scotland.

“Lily has been through so much at such a young age. Thanks to research, more children and young people are surviving cancer than ever before. But there’s still so much more to do.

“Our mission is to ensure no youngster in the UK diagnosed with cancer dies of the disease and that those who survive do so with a good quality of life.

“We’re able to carry out more research to help find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer thanks to campaigns like Give Up Clothes for Good.”