Brave teen to take on charity challenge for cancer charity

Gemma Hannah (19) was diagnosed with Lymphoma when she was 17, in the middle of studying for her A Levels.

The former Friends’ School pupil had to undergo specialist treatment for the disease at Belfast City Hospital.

Now in remission, Gemma plans to abseil down the very same hospital building on April 22 for the Friends of the Cancer Centre charity.

She said: “I have been in remission for over a year and I decided to do something to raise awareness for the good work Friends of the Cancer Centre do.

“I was treated on the top floor of the building where the abseil takes place. I am petrified of heights and have never done anything like this before.

“I am looking forward to it, I’m hopefully going to raise some money and bring awareness to the work of Friends of the Cancer Centre.

“You only realise the good work that Friends of the Cancer Centre do if you, or someone you know, has cancer. They helped me through my treatment and made it a lot less scary. They had a Lymphoma specialist who I could talk to and that helped.

“It’s all the little things when you are there full time. There was WiFi in the ward I was staying in because of Friends of the Cancer Centre.”

Despite undergoing treatment, Gemma showed incredible dedication to her studies and achieved an A* and two A grades in her A Levels.

She added: “I am currently on my gap year. I went travelling to Asia from November to January.

“I am going to university in September in Newcastle to study business management.”

Based at the heart of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, the charity funds life-saving and life-changing projects that make a real and lasting difference to the lives of thousands of local people affected by cancer.

You can help Gemma raise money for this great cause by donating directly via her fundraising page.