FRIENDS of a girl who is recovering from a brain tumour have donned wacky wigs to help raise awareness of the charity which supported her.

Brave Leah Hempsall was diagnosed with a brain tumour last Easter and underwent a gruelling operation as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The 11-year-old, who attends Staindrop Primary School, in Teesdale, is supported by the charity CLIC Sargent, and finished her treatment in March.

And to say thank you the school are hosting a week of fundraising activities including a duck race tomorrow (May 26) while the school’s pupil council have also organised cake and ice pop sales as well as selling the charity’s merchandise.

Today (May 25), students took part a national Wig Wednesday fundraiser and came to school in colourful wigs with the most outrageous being awarded prizes as part of a special school assembly.

Leah, who normally wears a wig after losing her hair during treatment, won her class category for her rainbow wig with Archie Kirkup, eight, taking the overall prize for his “crazy” Afro wig.

Talking about the event, Leah, of Stainton Grove, said: “It’s good. My wig is a rainbow.”

Leah’s mum, Pamela Hempsall, praised both the charity and the school for continuing to support her daughter.

“CLIC Sargent have been fantastic since day one getting her back in school and explaining it to her,” she said.

“The surgeons managed to remove the whole tumour during the operation but she still has to have a scan every month and it’s just a waiting game to see if it’s going to be clear or not.”

Leah still has regular scans and a check-up once a month but celebrated finishing her treatment with a big party in Barnard Castle.

“Leah handles it very well; she has good days and bad days like any normal person,” the mum-of-two added.

“I just want to say a massive thank you to CLIC Sargent and the school for their support they have given Leah; it’s been amazing and it keeps Leah’s spirits up.”

The charity also invited teachers to complete a training course and pupils had some visual awareness training in school to help Leah, who lost most of her sight during treatment.

Deputy headteacher, Janet Boyd, said:”Leah has been in school lots and is so sensible about it and done really well adapting to all the other things that came with the cancer.

“The rest of the school, particularly her classmates, have been amazing just adapting to everything as well – it’s been a bit of a learning curve for us all.”