Tumour survivor Grace's year of thanks for gifts charity (From The Northern Echo)

Tumour survivor Grace's year of thanks for gifts charity

6:16pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Durham City News By Mark Tallentire

A SCHOOLGIRL has launched a year-long fundraising campaign to say thank you to a charity which helped her through 18 months of chemotherapy.

Grace Kemp was born with neurofibromatosis, or Nf1, an incurable genetic condition affecting the skin and nervous system which causes tumours to grow around the body.

After developing a brain tumour in May 2008, aged four, Grace, from Ushaw Moor, in County Durham, underwent a year-and-a-half of intensive treatment – which also included hormone injections, ending in February 2010.

During her recovery, the brave youngster was sent treats and gifts by the Indee Rose Trust, a children’s charity based in Canvey Island, Essex.

The cause tries to respond to requests from sick children receiving treatment for a brain or spinal tumour with what it calls Treasure Boxes. Grace asked for a range of Disney toys.

Two years on, the Neville’s Cross Primary School pupil has been left visually impaired by the tumour but otherwise she is in relatively good health.

Now Grace, along with her mother Judith, has launched a year-long fundraising effort in aid of charity which helped her.

"They helped me so much. I wanted to help them," the eight-year-old said.

Mrs Kemp added: "They were absolutely fantastic. They get no funding from the Government and Grace was keen to help."

The first fundraising event will be a ‘psychic night’ at Bearpark Club, on Thursday, March 22, at 7pm. Tickets, priced £5 each, will be available at the door.

Six friends have signed up for a sponsored parachute jump, a ten-mile sponsored walk is being planned for July and there will be a charity night in August, at a venue yet to be decided.

Grace underwent a bone transplant aged two. To celebrate the end of her chemotherapy, in June 2006 she was taken to see her pop heroes Westlife at Newcastle Arena by limousine.

Her mother said: "She’s been so brave. Nothing fazes her."

Any member of the public or business wanting to support Grace’s fundraising effort should email: judithkemp@ymail.com For more information on The Indee Rose Trust, visit indeerosetrust.org