Youngster has battled brain tumour since age of 10 months
Young Ellie Harris has been through a lot in her short life, battling a brain tumour since she was just 10 months old.
The 10-year-old, of Liverton Mines in East Cleveland, will soon be due to finish yet another bout of treatment and faces further scans and possibly surgery in the future.
But despite years of undergoing tough chemotherapy for the cancer, brave Ellie “just gets on with things”, says her proud mum Marilyn Hellings.
Now Ellie’s bravery has inspired her mum, and dad Luke Harris, to raise funds in her name, which will go towards the hospital ward where their daughter has undergone so much of her treatment.
Marilyn said: “Ellie had four years without treatment but has been back on it for about two years now. We’ve managed to shrink the tumour and she’s due to go off the treatment in about eight weeks.”
Ellie, who was once given just weeks to live, was diagnosed with an astrocytom brain tumour at 10 months old.
Just before her second birthday, Ellie, who has an older brother Brandon, 13, and a baby brother, 16-month-old Lucas, had major surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible - 70% of it - and she’s undergone various bouts of treatment ever since to stop the tumour growing.
Marilyn, 29, added: “She’s always done really well with the treatment and is doing really well at the moment. She’s in a mainstream school, Handale Primary School, and although she’s a bit behind her peers as she does have some learning difficulties and has missed a lot of school, she has great one-to-one support there.
“Ellie’s a brilliant girl, she loves animals - is obsessed with meerkats - and enjoys arts and crafts, and absolutely dotes on her little brother. As soon as she comes in from school she’s playing with him.”
Now, inspired by Ellie’s great attitude, her dad, Luke, 32, and two of his friends - Kev Rudd and Andy Cannon - are cycling 160 miles coast to coast over three days from Liverpool to Skinningrove starting tomorrow to raise funds for the children’s cancer ward where Ellie has had her treatment at Newcastle’s RVI.
Ellie has already been able to hand a cheque over to some of her favourite nurses on the ward for more than £700, raised by Marilyn at last year’s Boxing Day Dip.
The men are now hoping to add around £1,000 to that total, which will go toward helping other children like Ellie.
Marilyn added: “Luke’s never really done any cycling, so it’s going to be pretty tough for him. His friend Kev has done some before so he’s organised it all.
“We’re just hoping to raise as much as possible.”
To sponsor the men, visit their page at http://ift.tt/T3z42y
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